Holiday shoppers looking for something a little darker than sugarplums and tinsel will find their match at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom this season, when the Creepy Little Christmas Market transforms the popular brewery into a crossroads of the strange and the festive.
Hosted by Dirtbag Farmers Market and Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom on Dec. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 5435 Corporation Drive in Hope Mills, the three-hour public event invites guests to “dare to deck the halls” with a twist. The market blends traditional seasonal cheer with eerie antiques, mystical curiosities and offbeat art, catering to those who prefer their Christmas spirit with a hint of the macabre.
Rather than rows of conventional holiday décor, visitors can expect vendors offering oddities, dark art, handmade curios and unusual gifts aimed at “the peculiar people” in their lives. From gothic ornaments and spooky home goods to arcane-inspired jewelry and collectibles, the event is designed for fans of the unusual, the occult aesthetic and the delightfully off-center side of the holidays.
In keeping with the laid-back community-focused atmosphere Dirtbag Ales is known for, the market is more than just a shopping experience. Attendees can enjoy live music while browsing the vendor booths, then step outside to visit a featured food truck for dinner or snacks. Families, groups of friends and craft beer fans are encouraged to linger, socialize and take in the offbeat holiday ambiance with a drink in hand.
One of the signature attractions of the evening will be the appearance of Krampus, the folklore figure often described as the dark counterpart to Saint Nicholas. Starting at 7 p.m., guests can pose for photos with the horned, hooved holiday creature, creating a keepsake that is more chilling than cherubic. Organizers say costumes are encouraged, and even “brave kids” are welcome to join the fun, making the photo opportunity a focal point of the night’s entertainment.
The Creepy Little Christmas Market also builds on the ongoing success of the Dirtbag Ales Brewery Farmer’s Market, which regularly highlights locally grown produce and artisan-made goods from around the Sandhills. On typical market days, visitors find everything from fresh vegetables to homemade jellies, jams and baked items in an open-air setting next to the brewery. Families can shop, listen to live music, let children play on the on-site playground and relax with a locally brewed beer.
That commitment to local producers and makers is central to the Creepy Little Christmas Market. The event is part of a broader collaboration between Dirtbag Ales and area farmers and artisans, who work together to showcase some of the region’s most distinctive products.
Organizers emphasize that the market is meant to be welcoming for the “whole crew,” including families, friends and four-legged companions, while also promoting an environmentally conscious, community-centered way to shop for the holidays.
The brewery itself has its roots in experimentation and camaraderie, a fitting backdrop for such an unconventional holiday gathering. The Dirtbag Ales story began when one of the founders, Tito, was serving in the U.S. Army and traded the promise of free beer for life in exchange for a friend’s homebrew kit. What began as late-night stove-top batches evolved into a homemade all-grain brewing system in a garage, and eventually into the full-fledged brewery and taproom that stands in Hope Mills today.
Those early days marked by trial and error, shared pints and a growing passion for craft beer, helped shape the laid-back, adventurous culture Dirtbag Ales is known for. The Creepy Little Christmas Market reflects that same spirit: a willingness to experiment, to give space to creative vendors and to offer the community an experience they are unlikely to find at a traditional mall or big box store.
Whether attendees have been naughty or nice, organizers say there will be something to discover, from stocking stuffers with a sinister spin to original, one-of-a-kind art pieces that challenge the usual red and green holiday color palette. With music, food, locally brewed beer and a looming Krampus ready for photos, the Creepy Little Christmas Market aims to prove that holiday magic can be equal parts merry and mysterious.