Ready to shop? Junior League’s Holiday Market opens this week
WHAT: Junior League Holiday Market
WHERE: S.C. State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 3, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. general market and 6-10 p.m. Ladies Night Out; Friday, Dec. 4, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. general market and 5:30-8:30 p.m. PJs with Santa “Frozen;” Saturday, Dec. 5, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 6, noon-5 p.m.
COST: $8, general admission (entry all days); free, children 12 and younger. Purchase at www.jlcolumbia.org or at the door. Special events, such as Ladies Night Out, and PJs with Santa, require separate tickets. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5.
The holiday season is officially under way now that Thanksgiving and its leftovers are in the rear view mirror. And while most people will spend the next few weeks alternating between sitting in mall gridlock traffic and clicking through an endless barrage of websites, you can box both of those experiences up and ship them to your Christmas past.
This year you can cross off two good deeds with one trip and buy local holiday gifts at the annual Junior League of Columbia’s Holiday Market.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the league’s largest fundraiser will be bigger and better this year, said Meg Mohan, the holiday market co-chair. There are 30 new vendors among the 120 housed in the Good and Cantey buildings, offering a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, home goods, crafts, foods and much more.
“We pull merchants locally as well as from all over so we have a good mix,” said Mohan. “We have merchants for men, women and children. We have something for everyone. You can come and knock out all of your holiday shopping in one place for everyone on your list.”
Among the vendors:
Rise Gourmet Goods and Bakeshop: Five Points’ newest bakery is described as a “Southern Boulangerie” serving breads, pastries, and gourmet goods you would find in a Paris bakery but with a Southern spin.
Bow Ties and Petticoats: New this year, this upscale children’s clothing vendor is for pint-sized ladies and gents with a refined sense of style.
PK Fine Imports: This vendor offers fine Mexican pewter products handcrafted and polished by skilled artisans.
Brackish Bow Ties: Bow ties crafted from real feathers.
Junior League has given more than $2 million dollars back to the community over the years. This year they are hoping with the added merchants they can give back more than ever before.
“We’re here to raise money for the community,” she said. “Our parties have a purpose and that’s what we want to stress. ... We like to have fun but its really about giving back.”