Credit: Emily Davids

Join WSPN’s Emily Davids and Annabel Orcutt as they reflect on their experience at Boston’s Snowport Holiday Market.

The Snowport Holiday Market is back for its fifth season, and this year it’s better than ever. This year, the open-air market features more than 120 festively lit vendors, and we had the opportunity to visit it. The market has plenty to offer, but crowds can make it overwhelming. To help visitors navigate Snowport, we put together a guide.

Tickets

With a notoriously long line, timed-entry tickets are a great option for those willing to pay. Admission to the market is free, but paying to skip the line, including for us, felt worth it. Dgital tickets are available on the Seaport Insider app. From Friday through Sunday, the tickets cost $14, with discounted tickets for veterans and children ages 6-17 at $6. Tickets are free for children ages 5 and under.

Timed-entry tickets let you skip the main line, but there is still a separate line for ticket holders, which we discovered upon arriving. This line is much shorter and moves quickly, but it does not eliminate the wait entirely.

If you’re planning to visit without a ticket, we recommend you arrive close to opening time or go during a less busy weekday hour to avoid waiting for more than an hour

Winter Wish Wall

The iconic Winter Wish Wall returned to Snowport this year. The Winter Wish Wall is a large public chalkboard where visitors can write their hopes for the holiday season. During our visit, the wall featured several inspirational messages and various signatures. Sponsored by Mass General Brigham Health Plan, the wall is worth a stop if you want to leave your mark at the market.

Curling

Along with vendors and food, Snowport offers iceless curling. The setup is also sponsored by Mass General Brigham Health Plan. Visitors can sign up for curling sessions through the Seaport Insider app, or stop by and try it on their own, as we did. We loved this addition to Snowport, and it is a great activity for families visiting with children.

Food

Snowport is famous for its plethora of food options, including hot chocolate, pasta and so much more. We found that most of the offerings were snacks, rather than full meals, so we suggest eating dinner before visiting. Just be sure to save room for the delicious treats and snacks. One of our favorite food options was Bocadillos, which serves chicken empanadas.

We also bought the viral Swedish candy at Sweetish Fish, which was a little pricy but definitely worth it. While walking around, we noticed that many people were carrying around “luxury” hot chocolate topped with marshmallow rims, cookies, peppermint and edible glitter. Several vendors sell hot chocolate, but Fat Cactus seemed to be the most popular.

For something savory, Cheese Wheel Pasta serves pasta tossed inside a cheese wheel. For dessert, we found that waffles from Naughty Waffle Co., with a range of flavors and toppings, were also a crowd favorite.

Shops

Now, onto arguably the center of Snowport: the vendor stalls. With so many shops to browse, it can feel overwhelming. To help narrow it down, we picked our top five stands based on appeal, uniqueness and price.

Vanilla Waves

Before we even entered Snowport, we knew Vanilla Waves was at the top of our list. Vanilla Waves is a woman-owned business that originated in Cape Cod as an Etsy business. The loungewear brand sells mainly sweat sets and pajama sets. All of the items have a coastal vibe to them, incorporating colors like red, light blue and white. Although Vanilla Waves is on the pricier side, with sweats starting at $55, we think it’s worth it for the quality and unique designs.

Lauren Greenfield Art

The first thing that stood out about the artwork at the Lauren Greenfield Art stand was how colorful it was. Each painting depicted some type of food or drink and each print was created with such vibrant colors. The artist, Lauren Greenfield, takes her inspiration from nostalgic food memories to incorporate into her pieces. Not only are her art pieces unique, but they are also priced extremely well. Each print is priced based on size with the five-by-seven at only $15.

Rusty and Ingrid Screen Prints

Sticking with the artwork theme, Rusty and Ingrid was yet another stand selling remarkable prints. With opposite styles to those of Lauren Greenfield Art, the artwork in Rusty and Ingrid contain more muted, subtle colors. All of the artwork is designed and screen printed by a couple living in Rockport, Massachusetts. The prints at this stand were also not expensive, with the five-by-seven prints starting at $24.

Gratinsta

Jewelry stands were everywhere at Snowport, but Gratinsta stood out. This brand sells nature-inspired pieces, with beatiful intricate flowers and small animals embedded into their designs. Grantinsta donates a portion of its proceeds to conservation efforts and protecting the natural world. Prices can run high, but there are more affordable options. If you’re looking for a piece that will last, the brand’s nontarnish jewelry feels worth the splurge.

Mure and Grand

While walking through Snowport, Mure and Grand will likely catch your eye. The pastel-colored stand sells everything from sweatshirts to accessories to jewelry, with a range of price points. What stood out most to us was the cardigan selection. The shop offers a huge selection of uniquely knitted cardigans with fun and bright patterns, some even featuring 3D details. They do get a little high in price, but they definitely feel worth it for a statement piece. Mure and Grand is a woman-owned business that aims to spread love and kindness through its products.

Summary

All in all, Snowport will draw you in no matter what you’re there for. It can feel overwhelming, but it is definitely worth the visit if you are shopping for last-minute holiday gifts. The vendor stalls offer unique gifts, snacks and keepsakes that you won’t find anywhere else.