November 23, 2020

Folk & Tribal Arts Marketplace Pops Up at SB Museum of Natural History

Over four weekends, from November 27 to December 20, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will host a series of pop-up shops in its courtyard. Each weekend will feature a different vendor from the beloved annual Folk & Tribal Arts Marketplace fundraiser. These pop-up shops will run Friday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. 25% of sales benefit Museum exhibits and programs. Throughout December, a selection of beautiful items from many other favorite marketplace vendors will be on-site in the Museum Store, which is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. This selection of items will also be available through the new online store (sbnaturestore.org).

Folk & Tribal Arts Marketplace is typically a large annual three-day fundraiser that features 30+ vendors selling goods from all over the world. Discerning gift-givers rely on it to supply a wealth of unique artisanal gifts. This year’s pop-up shop version aims to provide a safely scaled-down outdoor experience that still offers a fine array of handcrafted items. Shopping the Marketplace is free, Museum admission not included.

Vendors include:

11/27–11/29: Peruvian Imports featuring high-quality, handmade alpaca wool clothing and accessories

12/4–12/6: Anomaly Imports featuring handmade gifts such as palm baskets and products from the Zapotec Weavers of Teotitle del Valle, Oaxaca

12/11–12/13: RoHo Goods featuring Kitenge fabric masks, one-of-a-kind Kenyan beaded leather sandals, cowhide bags, African beaded jewelry, Binga baskets, and cowhide home goods that support Kenyan artisans

12/18–12/20: La Calenda featuring folk art from Oaxaca, clothing and textiles, jewelry, sculptures, and Talavera Pottery

Event organizer Director of Operations Amy Carpenter shares, “It’s a great way to spend the day enjoying the Museum and perusing unique items you can’t get anywhere else in Santa Barbara. This is a curated shopping event, with hand-picked vendors and products, and a story to go with every item.”

Shoppers are encouraged to be generous to their loved ones while supporting international artisans and the local community. For more information, visit sbnature.org/calendar.

Download Press Release (PDF)