From gluten-free cupcakes to honey-infused chocolate confections, Union Depot will offer visitors a sweet day of shopping when its Waiting Room is transformed into the Fourth Annual Holiday Bake Sale on Saturday, December 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The popular event will showcase top bakeries from around the Twin Cities, hostess and holiday gift vendors, and a sneak peek at Lowertown Pop, a Minnesota-made event that will take place at Union Depot April 15, 2017. 

“Each year, proceeds from ticket sales at the signature Bake Sale are donated to a local community group. This year, Merrick Community Services Food Shelf is the beneficiary of attendee generosity,” said Rafael E. Ortega, chairman, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority. Guests will enjoy baking and cooking demonstrations by participating chefs - scheduled every 30 minutes - as well as musical performances. There will also be on-stage demos with Lowertown Pop vendors Hagen & Oats showing their wood cutting craft techniques and American Craftsmen demonstrating bending wood. For a complete list of demonstrations and to purchase Bake Sale tickets in advance, visit www.uniondepot.org/bakesale. 

Admission is $5 for adults and includes a free tote bag. Seniors 60+ and kids under 12 are free (no tote bag with free admission). VIP admission is $10 and includes a commemorative train-themed cookie cutter gift set, free tote bag, and recipe cards from participating bakeries. Those receiving free admission may purchase the tote bag alone for $5 or the tote bag with the commemorative cookie cutter gift set and recipe cards for $10, while supplies last. One hundred percent of proceeds from event admission and the tote bag purchase will be donated to Merrick Community Services Food Shelf. This year’s participating bakeries include:

• Nikkolette's Macarons
• Potters Pasties
• Cravin’ Pie
• T-Rex Cookie Company, LLC
• Honey & Rye Bakehouse
• North Mallow & Co. LLC
• St. George Greek Orthodox Church
• Curly Girlz Candy, LLC
• Bread Art
• Groundswell
• Cookie Cart
• MinneCookies
• The Buttered Tin
• Heavenly Treats, LLC
• Taste of Love Bakery
• Black Dog Coffee & Wine Bar
• Kerry's Donut Bites
  
  Vendors offering hostess gift ideas will include:  
• Double Take Salsa
• Jamazing, LLC
• The Blue Heron Soap Company
• Patti's Granola & Nuts
• Wild Country Maple Products, LLC
• Grandma's Gourmets
• Mademoiselle Miel
• Panache
• Favorable Treats
  
  The Lowertown Pop preview will feature 10 of the local artisans and craftspeople who will participate in the April 2017 event, offering shoppers an array of unique items for holiday gift-giving and entertaining.  For more information about the 2017 Lowertown Pop event and a list of some of the vendors, please  visit http://www.uniondepot.org/lowertownpopmakers/. 

Lowertown Pop participating makers will include: 

• Moxie Malas
• Serendipity Accessories
• Gardenagerie
• Nest Pure
• Desdamona Doolittle's Trash to Treasure Leather
• American Craftsmen
• The VOICE Community
• Hagen and Oats
• StormSister Spatique
• Bodylish

For more information about Union Depot’s Hub for the Holidays events, please visit www.uniondepot.org/holiday or www.facebook.com/uniondepot. Information about Merrick Community Services Food Shelf is at http://www.merrickcs.org/services/food-shelf.