The focus on shopping local is on for the holidays. Besides supporting the local economy, you can often find great gifts made by local artists that are simply one-of a kind.

Between stART at the Station, happening Dec. 8, and the #ShopWOO campaign, there are plenty of chances to shop local before 2014.

stART at the Station

stART on the Street will bring its eighth annual gifting-themed arts and crafts festival to Worcester’s Union Station from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8..

A special preview from 9:30 – 11 a.m. is available for a $10 admission, which comes with coffee, a baked treat, a reusable shopping tote and shopping with lighter crowds. Entrance after 11 a.m. is free, though donations to help stART remain a free event are welcome.

As with all stART events, artists and crafters create only handmade goods. Wares range from textiles, pottery, stained glass and fine jewelry to photography, pet wares, holiday cards, ornaments and more.

stART Co-Director Tina Zlody says that stART at the Station will host 130 artists this year, up from the usual 100 hosted in events past.

Union Station’s restaurants will offer a full bar and a light menu during the event. Luciano’s Cotton Club, inside Union Station’s Grand Hall, will also host a football lounge, so shoppers won’t have to chose between buying local and catching the game.

Parking is available for $1 at the Union Station garage and free in municipal lots, and there is an ATM on site. Coat check will also be available in the lobby.

#ShopWOO

The Worcester Cultural Coalition’s WOO Card program has partnered with local merchants to encourage holiday shoppers to go local. Dubbed #ShopWOO, the campaign rewards consumers making purchases at nearly a dozen area retailers with deeply discounted access to WOO Cards.

The brainchild of Amy-Lynn Chase, owner of Crompton Collective, the WOO Card program’s newest WOO retailer, the campaign offers consumers the chance to sign a pledge form at a number of area retailers committing to shopping local throughout the holiday season. Winners will be randomly selected from all those who sign, to receive prizes at the conclusion of the campaign.

Want in? Here’s a list of local retailers and the WOO Card deals they’re offering:

Crompton Collective, 138 Green St., Worcester ~ Get a WOO Card for just $10 with any purchase through Dec. 29.

The Shop at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston ~ Get a WOO Card for just $10 with any gift shop purchase through Jan. 4.

CC Lowell, 258 Park Ave., Worcester – Get a WOO Card for just $10 with any purchase Saturdays, November 2nd – December 28th

Massachusetts Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester ~ Get a WOO Card for just $10 with any gift shop purchase any Saturday through Dec. 21.

Worcester Historical Museum, 30 Elm St., Worcester ~ Shop at the museum’s gift shop any Saturday through Dec. 28 and get a WOO Card for just $10 with any purchase

Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton ~ Get a WOO Card for just $10 with any purchase from the museum gift shop through Dec. 21.

CocoBeni Confections, 247A W. Main St., Northborough ~ Get a WOO Card for just $10 with any purchase Saturday, Dec. 7.

Fire Works Studio at the Sprinkler Factory, 38 Harlow St., Worcester ~ Get a WOO Card for $10 with any purchase at the Fire Works Holiday Open Studio Friday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 8.

Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester ~ Get a WOO Card for just $10 with any purchase from the Gallery Store’s Stocking Stuffer Day from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.