Courtesy Facebook/Uptown Village Market.

Depending on your family, originality can go a long way when it comes to gift-giving. If that’s the case for you, this two-day festival is a must-go, with all things handmade, from clothing and handbags to art, pottery and home goods, sold by artists and creators Friday and Saturday at the EXPO Arts Center. This is the 15th Uptown Village Market, offering not only indoor and outdoor shopping but live music, a game station, craft centers and food trucks.

Opening night on Friday will be held alongside all the First Fridays festivities up and down Atlantic Avenue, so prepare yourself for crowds, holiday music on every corner, art by local artists at The Allery, cider and hot chocolate and simulated snow.

Just be mindful of potential hangry-ness. The food truck lineup and “other food booths” have yet to be announced, so maybe bring a snack just in case? Low blood sugar while shopping is… let’s just say, the worst for any relationship. Maybe go to this one alone?

Another great thing: Also in the same Atlantic Ave. neck in the woods, the happy few at LB Shakespeare Company put on an evening showcasing the beauty of poetry and literature as interpreted through American Sign Language. The public is not only welcome to attend the free event and witness the unique and beautiful form of expression but are also eligible to get on stage and share their stories, poems, humor or reminiscences about that time in college they did that thing, that changed the thing, that changed everything. But, for that, you’ll need to email LBSCat: [email protected].

The event takes place from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Helen Borgers Theatre, which just so happens to be in Bixby Knolls, which will just so happen to be putting on its very fun First Fridays event before, during and after this event, so, you can just drop on by and drop on in.

Giving us a moment’s pause: We’re good.

Uptown Village Market is open Friday, Dec. 6, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at EXPO Arts Center; 4321 Atlantic Ave. For more info, click here.

The Helen Borgers Theatre is located at 4250 Atlantic Ave.

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].