The Holiday Market sells produce from local farms every Saturday in Decemeber. (Kimberly Harris/Emerald)
Ever since the Eugene Saturday Market started in 1970, it has brought together artists and lovers of handcrafted art. Community members flock to 8th and Oak streets, rain or shine, most Saturdays of the year.
But when the weather becomes unruly and holiday season approaches, the Saturday Market moves inside to the Lane County Fairgrounds where it becomes the Holiday Market.
“The Holiday Market is the most festive way to experience the holidays,” Renee Thompson the marketing manager said, “We have thousands of various handmade gifts to choose from, live entertainment and an international food court.”
Approximately 500 artisans are signed up to sell at this year’s Holiday Market. Three hundred of those vendors sell on any particular day. The market has 15 days of operation, which is more than last year due to this year’s leap. Not every vendor sells every selling day, as there are seven selling weekends and thus seven sign-up blocks.
The Vendors apply to sell at the Holiday Market during the summer, even long time sellers must apply before signing up for selling blocks.
“We do recommend that people try and do all seven selling blocks because that makes it so that customers can come and find you, and then you can really work toward having that booth space be your booth space,” Thompson said.
Jenni Babcock of Jenni B Jeweled sells her earrings, necklaces and bracelets at both the Saturday and Holiday markets.
“I work my buns off for the Holiday Market,” Babcock said, “A lot of times before the market I am up until 2 or 3 a.m. working on getting things done, I think that is pretty true for a lot of vendors.”
Her favorite piece to make is her heart-shaped necklaces. Babcock purchases vintage fabric from thrift shops and estate sales, cuts the fabric into a heart, then inserts it into a shaped metal pendant, which she also has made, and lastly attaches the completed pendant to a metal beaded chain.
Other than shopping, the Holiday Market spreads holiday cheer by having dress-up days during certain dates. “People love to have them every year…We’re starting off this Saturday with holidays and the tropics, and so a lot of people will bring their favorite Hawaiian shirt and stuff like that,” Thompson said.
The market also hosts a game, the elf game. The objective of the elf game is simple: find as many elves as possible. The number of elves varies and community members will purchase (or make) dress up elves to bring for the game. The elves are then hidden around the market.
Guests who care to play are given a card with rhymes and riddles to guide them to find the elves.
“If you reach a certain threshold, you can get a prize, and then if you find even more, you can be entered in for a drawing,” Thompson said. The elf game is revving to go, but only for the first two weekends of the market.
The first weekend of the Holiday Market was Nov. 16 and 17. “It’s very much about highlighting what is in the community, so you never really know what is going to happen,” Thompson said.
