Okay I’m sure that every city has their fair share of vendor shows, but Kansas City has this on lock! Since moving here, I have been continually impressed by the vendor events in this city. These are not your standard, just any random booth events. They are carefully curated with the local community in mind. There are so many good ones, but I’m highlighting my top five in this post.

Sip, Style, Shop:

In her inaugural year, Sip, Style, Shop creator, Brianna Archuletta executed two extremely successful events. Her Spring event, held at The Berg, featured snacks from Hyvee and Midwest Cookie Co, a sampling of local boutiques like Coco, LadyBye, and Shop Scoobie, and a mini tutorial on personal styling. In the Fall, Archuletta took it to the next level with an afternoon at 28 Event Space. Swag bags upon entry, DJ Ashton Martin spinning the soundtrack, snacks by Grazing KC, Midwest Cookie Co, and Cottontale and cocktails by Boozie. Twelve local boutiques were on site for exclusive shopping, and Paint was providing complimentary manis while Posh was hosting a braid bar. When asked why she created SSS, Brianna answered. “It started as a fun way to answer the question ‘where can I shop local in KC.’ As the planning went on, I noticed how anxious locals were to actually connect with the businesses, not just shop, and it quickly became a platform for small businesses to interact with the community.” Now that’s a mission I can shop behind! Check out Sip, Style, Shop to stay up to date on future events.

Holiday Mart:

This annual event is hosted by Junior League Kansas City each October at Bartle Hall. This is Kansas City’s premier nonprofit shopping event that supports several local agencies, primarily focused on women and children. Shoppers are encouraged to use the event to get a jump start on their holiday shopping, but I rarely leave with anything for anyone but myself. What’s so special about Holiday Mart? The majority of the vendors are our local favorites! Boutiques, jewelry makers, bakeries, all shutting down shop to raise money at this event. In addition to the multi day event, you can expect a Ladies Night Out event, a Happy House, a DIY event, and their annual Pics with St. Nick. Check out Holiday Mart KC for details.

Strawberry Swing:

Founded in 2011, The Strawberry Swing has become a Kansas City tradition. They host an event every single season, with several creative pop-ups in between. These events always bring the most unique and innovative that KC has to offer. Typically focused on handmade goods, these events elevate that idea with handmade food from food trucks, handmade tunes from live music, and handmade activities for the whole family. I look forward to these events every season, because I know that I will always find some new obsession from our creative community. Check out the Strawberry Swing webpage for upcoming events.

Just For Her:

The Just For Her Event is Kansas City’s premier women’s event held each June at the Overland Park Convention Center. Originally designed as a way to bring women together to enjoy time with friends and family, it has grown to over 350 exhibitors. The event focuses heavily on shopping, but their goal is to tie in other things they knew women love, including beauty, pampering, wellness, fitness, health, food, drinks and more. With the many vendors and gorgeous pink decor, this is my perfect excuse for a girls day! For all the details on the next event, check out Just for Her.

Chick Events:

Chick Events focuses on buying, eating, and sipping locally in a pop-up style event. They primarily support the handmade vendors in KC, encouraging attendees to shop and eat local, versus chain stores and restaurants. Their events are so creatively put together that you feel as if you’ve been transported to another (crafty) world. They host multiple events throughout the year, and you can stay up to date through the Chick Events website.

What are your favorite KC vendor events?

XOXO,

Molly B.