One of a Kind Spring Show
- What: A large makers market featuring handmade goods, housewares, jewelry, and unique items from independent artisans. - When: Weekend run April 24–26, 2026 with daytime shopping hours. - Where: In Chicago — full venue, hours, and ticket details at choosechicago.com.
Chicago’s One of a Kind Spring Show returns April 24–26, filling the 7th floor of THE MART with more than 350 artists, designers, and makers. (choosechicago.com) The event runs Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, with adult tickets starting at $15 and re-entry allowed all three days. (choosechicago.com) Organizers say the 2026 edition includes more than 150 new exhibitors and 35 emerging artists, with sellers traveling from across North America. (choosechicago.com) The show’s draw is direct sales from jury-selected vendors rather than mass-market retail, spread across 20 categories that include jewelry, furniture, ceramics, gourmet goods, paper, pets, and repurposed or upcycled work. (oneofakindshowchicago.com) That format puts independent makers in front of thousands of shoppers at a downtown venue better known for trade shows and design showrooms. The spring edition is one of two annual Chicago runs listed by the show, with a holiday event scheduled for December 3–6, 2026. (oneofakindshowchicago.com) This year’s program adds more than shopping: organizers list live music, artist demonstrations, a Gourmet Market, a Hatchery Pavilion for food entrepreneurs, an Emerging Market, and a curated Fine Art Gallery. (choosechicago.com) THE MART is also tying the weekend to its riverfront setting. Each evening, visitors can step outside for ART on THE MART, the large-scale digital projection that lights the building’s facade. (choosechicago.com) For shoppers, the pitch is spring-specific: home décor, fashion, gifts, and seasonal entertaining goods timed to Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings, and early-summer events. For exhibitors, it is a three-day shot at in-person sales before Chicago’s outdoor market season fully ramps up. (choosechicago.com) The result is a weekend market built around handmade work at a scale most craft fairs cannot match, with daytime hours, downtown transit access, and hundreds of booths under one roof. (oneofakindshowchicago.com)
