With the holidays right around the corner it is time to think about SHOPPING! If you haven’t been the best gift giver, now is the time to up your game.

The Houston Nutcracker Market is a four-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the Houston Ballet, it's Academy and Scholarship Programs.

The market takes place at NRG Center and hosts almost 300 merchants. You can shop for a little of everything. Merchants sell food, arts and crafts, toys, clothes, and everything in between. It is a great place to find unique snacks and gifts for the holiday season.

Here are our top shopping hacks for navigating and taking full advantage of this year’s Nutcracker Market. Shop 'til you drop—for a great cause! 

Image courtesy of Camden

When To Go: See times and ticket info on the Nutcracker Market page by the Houston Ballet!

1. Go with a group. Several vendors offer discounts when buying multiples of things.  You’ll also have a more fun, memorable time. If you do go in a group – make a plan and bring fully charged cell phones. It is easy to get split up. You can even wear hats or holiday headbands to make spotting each other easier in the crowds.

2. Go after 3 PM to avoid the larger crowds. While the market opens at 10 AM, the big crowds seem to dissipate by the later afternoon. If you go later in the day on Friday or Saturday, items should still be readily available, and you won’t have to deal with as many crowds as during the opening-hour rush.

3. Go Sunday for steals, but stalls may be picked over. The final day of the market is a great day to haggle and get great deals as vendors are hoping to unload their remaining merchandise. The only downfall is some booths may have already sold out or be quite picked over.

4. Go all weekend long with the Early Bird Ticket Option. If you think you’ll visit the market more than two days, get the Early Bird Tickets and save some money! This option also allows you to get in early on Thursday and Friday.

Image Courtesy of The Houston Ballet

Know Before You Go:

1. Buy your ticket at H-E-B to save time. H-E-B business centers have tickets, and you can avoid long ticket and will call lines. Any excuse for more time to shop!

2. Plan your trip using the online merchant list and maps. The Nutcracker Market is BIG and BUSY and can be OVERWHELMING. It is best to take advantage of the merchant list and maps provided online to make the most of your time. While it’s fun to browse, time can get away from you so it’s a great way to make sure you check out what you really want to see.

3. Wear quick change clothes. Not all merchants will have dressing rooms and those that do may have long lines. Wear clothes you can change on top of or layer for quick try-ons.

4. Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking A LOT. While it may be fun to get a little dressed up and festive, now is not the time to pull out sky-high heels. Thank goodness for the cute tennies and athleisure trends.

5. Utilize the Metro and light rail. As with any event at NRG, parking is a pain and can be costly. Many of our Camden properties are very handy to light rails and metro stops (Camden McGowen Station for example), so take advantage.

Once You’re There:

1. Make a bee-line for the bar. The bar lines can get lengthy, but fellow patrons are generally in good spirits (especially after a few good spirits), and can offer great shopping advice. Also, a mimosa tends to help quiet any buyer’s remorse.

2. Use cash to help haggle. While the majority of vendors will accept cards, you are more likely to be able to negotiate with cash and avoid any transaction fees that may be tacked on. This also helps when you’re trying to stick to a budget.

3. Use Package Check This is a $5 option in which your larger items are checked for you to pick up at the end. If you purchase larger items or several items, it is a great way to free up your hands and not have to haul around bigger or bulk items.

3. When hunger strikes, pick samples over the snack line. The free samples at various booths are often delicious and, again, FREE. They are usually a much better choice than waiting in the long snack lines.

4. Have fun! The lines may be long and the crowds large, but there are so many unique finds.  Have fun and make the most out of your Nutcracker Market experience. Your ticket proceeds and a percentage of proceeds from purchases go to a great cause.

Looking for more fun things to do in Houston this Fall, check out this blog! Then, follow Simply Camden to keep up with what's going on around town throughout the year!