Alternative Gift Fair comes to Lakefront Palm Garden this December

The Fourth Annual Exchange Alternative Gift Fair set for Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Lakefront Palm Garden

The Exchange Alternative Gift Fair moves to a new home  this year. This year’s event, the fourth annual, will be held at the Lakefront Palm Garden at Lakefront Brewery.

‘We’re excited to be here,” said Malcolm McDowell Woods, the Exchange’s editor. “The Palm Garden is a terrific location and we’re extremely grateful to Lakefront for letting us use this space for the fair.”

Once again, the Fair will be held in conjunction with a Buy Local Fair conducted by Our Milwaukee, the trade group representing the independent businesses that help make Milwaukee unique.

Last year’s fair, held at the Urban Ecology Center, drew hundreds of visitors and raised several thousand dollars for local charities.

At an alternative gift fair, representatives of local non-profits get to tell their organizations’ stories. The groups offer a variety of ways that fair goers can contribute money to their cause.

Visitors are encouraged to make donations to the groups of their choice in honor of loved ones for the holiday season. They’ll receive a gift card to record their donation they can then give to the people on their gift list.

“People have told us they love the opportunity to visit with so many non-profits all at one time and in one space,” said Woods. “The fair is a great alternative to the mall scene and a wonderful way to help build our community with your holiday shopping.”

A wide variety of charitable organizations have been invited to participate in the fair. While the final line up of groups was not yet available as this issue went to press, past fairs have included groups which help fight hunger, homelesslessness, domestic abuse and illiteracy as well as pet rescue groups and nature centers.

This year’s fair will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 1 – 5 p.m. The fair is sponsored by Outpost Natural Foods, Lakefront Brewery, Our Milwaukee, Stephanie Bartz Photography, Digital Edge and Fair Trade for All.

“It takes some work to put on an event like this and we really want to thank the local businesses and individuals who have stepped up to help sponsor this fair,” said Woods, who added that the Exchange is still seeking sponsors. Interested individuals should call Gail Vella at Outpost’s administrative offices at 414-431-3377 extension 110.

Among the groups expected to participate are: Adoption Resources of WI, Literacy Services of WI, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, the American Red Cross, Milwaukee Riverkeepers, The Gathering of SE WI, Milwaukee Empty Bowls, Community Shares, Sojourner Family Peace Center and Milwaukee Urban Gardens, among others.

The Our Milwaukee event will share the Palm Garden space with the Alternative Gft Fair. It’s an opportunity for local independent businesses — all members of Our Milwaukee — to talk up what makes them unique. For more information about that event or about Our Milwaukee, visit this website.