Different Christmas markets and fairs are opening their doors in December in Moscow. Here you can do your Christmas shopping and enjoy custom holiday treats like mulled wine and gingerbreads. It is also a good way to spend a nice time with your children.
Although such markets are less popular in Russia than in Europe, they remain an essential part of celebrating Christmas and New Year in Russian cities.

Here are several most interesting Christmas fairs in Moscow: 

Christmas Market at the Central House of Artist
Open: Daily (except Mondays) from December 9 to December 25, 11:00 to 20:00.
Location: 10/14, Krymsky Val St., Central House of Artist, exhibition halls 5, 7, 8, 9. 
Metro: “Park Kultury”, “Oktyabrskaya”.    

More than 150 art studios, galleries, art shops and artists have been preparing for a year so that to present their unique works on the territory of the Central House of Artists. You will be able to choose among the great variety of handicrafts, jewelries, clothes and accessories, Christmas toys and other gifts made of silver, leather, beads and stones. This market is a great place to find something unusual for your family and friends.

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Christmas Market at Crocus City
Open: Daily from December 16 to January 10, 10:00 to 22:00.
Location: 65-65 km of Moscow MKAD Ring Road, the square in front of the pavilion 3 of Crocus City
Metro: “Myakinino”.

The first Europe Christmas Market in Russia starts to work on December 16.  It will bring to Moscow the best traditions of French, German and Austrian fairs. Why to go to this Christmas market:

to buy unique author’s items and New Year gifts. About 200 stalls, selling different products, will be placed on the territory of the fair
to spend an exciting time with you children at Luna Park
to see New Year performances and puppet shows
to visit one of the open cafes and to taste traditional Christmas food and drinks

The infrastructure includes: car park for 15 thousand cars, nearby metro, two shopping malls situated not far from the market (“Your Home” and “Crocus Mall”).
Visit this event and you will not regret the time spent there. 

Christmas Market “The Other Things”
Open: December 24-25, from 12:00 to 20:00.
Location: 4, Bolshoy Ordynsky Lane, in the gallery “White”.
Metro: “Tretyakovskaya” or “Novokuznetskaya”.

This Christmas market is organized by famous Russian art project “The Other Things”, which unites craftsmen and presents their works to public. The first fair was held in 2006 and aroused great interest among people. Since that moment the project has started to organize various handmade fairs and city festivals.
During two days in the end of December you will be able to enjoy the New Year atmosphere, to buy gifts from Russian designers and to take part in holiday workshops:

New Year table decoration
Christmas angel felting
Making toys of papier-mâché for a New Year tree
Interior Christmas decoration
Cooking of Christmas treats from “Anderson” café

New Year Art Fair in Sokolniki Park
Open: December 28-30, January 4-9, from 12:00 to 22:00. Concerts will be held from 17:00 to 22:00.
Location: 1, Sokolnichesky Val St., Park Sokolniki (pavilion ¹2).
Metro: “Sokolniki”.

Another great winter festival called “The Wonderful Garden” will take place in Moscow Sokolniki Park. It will be the mix of art, music, original gifts, handicrafts, workshops and games.  The program of the Christmas festival includes:

Handicrafts and gifts Christmas fair
Various workshops
Evening concerts (ethnic, folk and other kinds of music)
Exciting games
Fire shows, exhibitions, performances
Entertainment program for children
Book fair
Food section
Yoga activities

Christmas Market at the Art Centre “Vetoshny”
Open: December 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 25-30, from 13:00 to 21:00.
Location: 13, Vetoshny Lane, 4 floor, “Star Dolls” Gallery.
Metro:  “Okhotny Ryad”, “Teatralnaya”. 

The main topic of this Christmas fair is dolls, toys and childhood. The art centre will be transformed into a wonderful market with friendly sellers, offering souvenirs, original gifts, toys and lovely trinkets for Christmas.

Retro Style
On December 17 you will be able to enjoy the vintage atmosphere and to see the exposition of old Christmas cards. A New Year Tree surrounded by antique toys, dolls and accessories will give you an opportunity to feel the poetry of past epochs.

Soviet New Year Tree
20 years ago a Christmas toy was a real family treasure. Balls, figures of fairytale characters and glass icicles passed from generation to generation. Today Soviet toy is an art object and a in item popular among collectors. At the festival you will see the most famous Soviet New Year decorations from the private collection by Sergey Romanov. The exhibition will be supplemented with a series of old cards from the Central Children’s Museum of Postcards (St. Petersburg). 

Christmas market at the Art Centre “Vetoshny” will be working every weekend during December and this place is worth visiting during your winter travel. An added attraction is the nearby GUM shopping centre with its great mix of famous stores, cafés and restaurants.

New Year Bazaar at ARTPLAY Design Centre
Open: December 18, from 10:00 to 22:00. 
Location: 10, Nizhnyaya Syromyatnicheskaya St.
Metro: “Kurskaya”, “Chkalovskaya”.

A wonderful winter event with gifts, treats, smiles and live music will be held in December 18 at ARTPLAY Design Centre. About 40 charitable organizations will meet to create an atmosphere of the New Year’s Day.  Each company will raise funds for particular projects. To support them you can buy something or leave a donation. The upcoming event will be full of exciting activities – workshops, performances, entertainments for children. You will be able to take part in a culinary show, to make a New Year card or a Christmas angel, to listen to famous Russian singer Pelageya.

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Natalia Semicheva.

Image courtesy: www.drugie-veshi.ru.

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