New days, vendors for YMCA Christmas Market
The YMCA Christmas Market is getting an invigorating shot of christmas gift spirit for its 34th show with new vendors, new ticket price and a change of dates.
The Y Show opens its doors Thursday for a three-day run in the Chattanooga Convention Center. Once one of the most anticipated events of the holiday season, the show had declined in vendor offerings over the past few years because of scheduling conflicts with other regional shows, primarily Christmas Village in Nashville, which always began the day after the Y show concluded on Thursday.
“With the change in ticket price, date change and free shuttle, we are trying to make attending the show as easy as possible for shoppers,” said Evonne Marler Kendle, new market chairwoman. Connie Farrar, who has been with the market since its beginning, continues to serve as market volunteer chairman.
Kendle said the Y market committee found that although the previous $8 ticket allowed admission all three days, most people tiffany christmas tree didn’t make more than one visit. So this year’s ticket has been reduced to $5 for a one-day admission.
The committee changed the former dates, Tuesday-Thursday the first week of November, to a Thursday-Saturday later in the month. Kendle said she began getting calls from vendors who claimed they had wanted to come for years but were prevented by scheduling.
“There are over 90 exhibitors this year, and one-third of them are new,” Kendle said. “We were full this year before the application deadline. A lot of people are saying the change in days has excited them about bringing in a new shopping crowd.”
Among the new vendors, she said, will be Matthew Wilson’s Wilson and Bow with a line of Christmas Tree men’s silk neckties; Leisa Wimpee of Essential Whimsy with custom-cut vinyl quotes for wall hangings; Keepsake Images with hand-cut, painted frames; Hot Chocolatier with hot-chocolate mixes; and several vendors doing personalization such as monogramming. Joseph Gibson will be bringing hammocks made of silk parachuting that hold up to 400 pounds. The hammocks fold up to the size of a softball, making them great for camping.
“We have limited jewelry vendors to just a dozen,” she said. “We’ve tried to include something for everyone. There is fine jewelry, sterling silver, costume and the handcrafted. One jeweler who is particularly exciting is Jennifer Gilbert with Rising Dawn, who hand-makes jewelry from gold wire wrapped around natural gemstones.”
All the market “anchors” will return, including Robert Lee’s holiday decorations, Wheeler’s Orchard and sterling christmas tree Sunshine Hollow.
NEW AT THE MARKET
A new addition to the YMCA Christmas Market is the Celebrate With Santa party for children 12 and younger, starting at 10 a.m. Nov. 21. Cost is $15 for children, $10 for the accompanying adult, which includes admission to the market. Photos with Santa by Wilson Photography are an additional $10.
Credit: Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.