Magical Midwinter - An Interactive Experience
About this Event
Calling all the magical folk of the south! The Magical Midwinter Marketplace is coming back to Louisville, KY this December. Combining your favorite parts of a renaissance festival, a mysterious night market, and a live dungeons and dragons campaign, Magical Midwinter invites you to leave mundanity behind and embrace your magical self.
Step into a magical world filled with unique vendors and compelling characters. Learn more about furthering your magical education by visiting the professors of Lorehollow Academy at their popup bookstore – will you choose to specialize in plant-speaking as a Sylvan from House Ashthorn, or will you learn the ancient art-craft of forging spells into metal as an Artificer in House Ironstag? After working up a thirst, stop by the tavern to grab a drink and gossip with the barkeep – who knows what rumors you might uncover! Do your holiday shopping for your magical friends and family – the marketplace is the perfect place to pick up magical necessaries like specialty potions, enchanting artifacts, books of magic, and much more! Most importantly - the marketplace won’t be here for long and entrance is limited – don’t miss your chance to visit and purchase your entrance time today!
New for 2026!
Two new factions deepening the lore and conflict in the magical world including:
The Family Nightingale - an illusive wealthy family who handpicks their kin
The Portal Gazette - a group of hard-hitting reporters eager to publish the truth of the Marketplace and its mysterious inhabitants
Lorehollow, the Veilbreakers, and Markies are all returning for 2026 to further their goals. Who will you join?
A new after-hours experience for dark wizards and witches 21+ - learn more about the dark history of the Veilbreakers and, perhaps, make contact beyond the grave with the notorious Viviane Blackthorn. Look for the Tavern Takeover ticket to participate in this special event - Friday nights 9-11p ONLY. Experience the marketplace with a select group one hour after it closes to the public.
Themed Weekends - The Marketplace now has a calendar of events! Expect different musical guests, fortune tellers, and specific themed narrative content and quests for each of the weekends the Marketplace is in Louisville. For those travelers who come back each week and complete all special quests in addition to the standard quests, a special cumulative completion prize is available!
New Vendors - Joining us this year are new vendors with enchanting new offerings such as grimoires, alchemical concoctions, and sweets and snacks. Don't worry - your favorite faces from last year will still be there, too!
More Narrative Content - you asked and we delivered! The Marketplace now has three times as many quests to complete, allowing you to dive deeper into the stories at the heart of the marketplace.
Advancing Story - based on the decisions of the questees and interactions with guests, the story will advance each week. YOU decide the fate of the marketplace.
Ticket Options
True Markie - The best option for those who want to experience everything the market has to offer. The True Markie pass allows you unlimited entrance into the marketplace on any of the days it is open, allowing the holder to complete all special weekend quests as well as all of the regularly available content.
Traveler Pass - A one-day pass to the Marketplace that grants the holder access to the marketplace and all quests. A great pass for those who want to have the true Marketplace experience.
Observer Pass - A one-day pass to the Marketplace that grants the holder access to the marketplace, but no quest content. A great option for those who just want to see what the marketplace is all about, but are not interested in embarking on adventure.
Apprentice Pass - For our youthful travelers age 7-15, a discounted pass is available which grants them full access to the marketplace including quest content.
Limited Opening Times and Timed Entry
The Marketplace will be open November 27th-December 20th, but with limited hours on Friday (5-10p), Saturday (3-10p), and Sunday (3-9p) only.
Pass holders will be welcomed through the portal every hour on the hour. Please purchase for the time slot you wish to enter the marketplace. Your day pass grants you access to the Marketplace your whole day of entry, until the Marketplace closes. True Markies are welcome back with their True Markie pass (a pass must be purchased, even if you have a gold key pin from last year) at any time this season.
Special 21+ after hours events occur after the Marketplace closes and require an additional ticket purchase to access this content.
Group Discounts
The Marketplace is proud to offer discounts to families and groups that want to travel the marketplace together. Be sure to check out our family of four pass, which gives a discount on two adult traveler tickets and two youth apprentice tickets. New this year - Buy four tickets of the same kind, get one free!
Other Important Information
Free parking is available at the Logan Street Market lot at the corner of Logan St. and Kentucky St. Validate your parking by scanning the QR code available in the Gazette Office.
The entrance to the Marketplace has moved! Look for the Marketplace logo and enter through the Gazette office, separate from Logan Street Market (just a few steps down the sidewalk).
The Marketplace does its best to be inclusive of all our guests, including those needing ADA accommodations, however there may be some tight spaces, uneven flooring, and stairs at different points in the Marketplace. All quests will have ADA accessible methods for completion.
Magical Attire is always encouraged, but never required!
Children six and under are free!
Agenda
🕑: 03:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Fae, Beasts, and Spirits Weekend
Info: November 27th-29th | Calling all shapeshifters, faeries, and woodland spirits – the portal to the Magical Midwinter Marketplace is open! Join us in homecoming to Louisville, KY and celebrate the spirits of winter and the forest. A special-edition pin available for fae, beasts, and spirits who tell their tale of origin to the market master!
🕑: 03:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Rogues and Wanderers Weekend
Info: December 4th - 6th | The Marketplace welcomes spies, con artists, rogues, and thieves from all corners, as well as merchants, travelers and wanderers of all dimensions and planes, to step through the portal and share in the magic of the marketplace (thieves and rogues are welcome to trade their own trinkets with willing participants, but remember the marketplace is guarded against roguery – any attempt to steal from the marketplace will result in immediate banishment through the portal!).
🕑: 03:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Lorehollow Weekend
Info: December 11th-13th | Show your Lorehollow house pride and come dressed in the colors of your house. Meet other students and discover your specialty and class in a quest designed for those who have completed their MATs, only available this weekend.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Veilbreakers Weekend
Info: December 18th-20th | Celebrate Victor Creo and his faction of Veilbreakers – maybe even join them! Learn more about death magic and your untapped potential as the Veilbreakers take over the Marketplace. Or – fight back against their encroaching storm with the Lorehollow professors by infiltrating their ranks! The final weekend of the Marketplace will determine the power of the Veilbreakers faction - make your voice heard!
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 18.92 to USD 544.88
