For someone who tends to shy away from anything that draws a massive crowd, I found myself absolutely smitten with the Friday night party for Denver's Holiday Flea. Taking over Broadway's legendary Sports Castle building for the weekend, the Flea hosted floor upon floor of Denver creative entrepreneurs & their finely crafted wares, six boozey bars serving up holiday cheer, & fitting tunes that kept that party goin.

Holiday revelers shopping threads from Shinesty (Photo Cred: Meesh Deyden)

Featuring about 190 makers from in and around the Mile High, the Flea brought local fare from new hustlers like Very Cool Club, with their typography-focused tongue-in-cheek clothing line, to more established brands like B. Fresh and 14er Posters. One could trek Sports Castle from top to bottom and find everything needed for the holiday season-- Keenan's Killer K-Sauce to douse on every underflavored appetizer you encounter at your slew of holiday parties; witty and colorful thank you cards from Mountains vs Plains & Parcel Paper Co. you belatedly send friends and relatives for all those fruit cakes, tamales, and socks; slick new leather wares you'll inevitably show off to everyone from Colored Red; and of course, winter-ready gear that screams Colorado from Mountain Standard.

Not only was I impressed with the sheer talent & business acumen this shopping extravaganza showcased, but I was positively barreling over in laughter with how silly and happy most attendees appeared. Every time I went to take a candid crowd shot, I was delightfully bombarded with profesh photo-bombers or pose-ready models just waitin for me to press the shutter. Thank you all for making my job easy, and my night that much lovelier.

So, if you didn't make it this time around, check out our photo gallery below and see all the fun we had without you. JK, we love you, and you were probably doing something cool, too. Besides, there's always next year, babes.

It's thaaaaaaat tiiiiime of yeaar when the egg nog flows, the downtown ice rink arrives, & we're all scurrying either toward or far, far away from the city's holiday cheer. Whether you're decorating by the 1st of November or donning earmuffs to not have listen to another Christmas carol, I assure you attending Denver's Holiday Flea this weekend will ease you in the perfect mood to kick off the last month of 2017.

Returning to Broadway's Sports Castle, the Holiday Flea brings the party-- boasting crafted wares from almost 200 hundred Colorado makers and offering signature cocktails from some of Denver's loveliest bars and restaurants, you're sure to start your holiday shopping spree in style. Grab a pint of Great Divide's Yeti, or a coupe of Headlocks & Apologies and join us this Friday night from 6 to 9 as dance our way through the kick off party-- an exclusively 21+ preview night filled to the brim with brews, booze, and grooves.

The Holiday Flea runs Saturday from 10AM to 6PM and Sunday from 10AM to 5PM. Oh, and if you happen to need a morning pick me, they've got ya covered with Kahlua & Corvus Coffee, or a slew of offerings from their breakfast bar. You can find tickets for the Friday night festivities here, and admission to the weekend shenanigans, here.