Karen Szewc of Liongate Farm holds an ornament she created during the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Fair Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
Wood creations from Bill Henry’s Crafts, Wood and ETC are on display at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
Wood Creations from Bill Henry’s Crafts, Wood and ETC at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
Will Markling of Old World Candies in Ashland grabs some fudge for a local customer at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
The Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
Creations by Karen Szewc of Liongate Farm are on display Saturday during the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
Parking lots were full Saturday for the holiday market at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
People browse the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Fair on Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
Creations by Karen Szewc of Liongate Farm are on display Saturday during the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
Liongate Farm owner Karen Szewc suffered an accident over the summer that left her recovering from a neck brace and head bandage, but that didn’t stop her from embracing customers with a smile and show off her homemade ornaments at the Jackson County Expo Holiday Market. weekend.
Eagle Point-based Liongate Farm joined more than 100 other vendors across three buildings in Central Point’s expansive event space. The event continues on Sunday and admission is free.
“It’s the first holiday show of the year. It’s just a great place to meet people and spread our products in the community,” Szewc said. “They like my stuff, and I tell them, ‘Merry Christmas!'”
While other vendors sold jams and jewelry, Szewc had ornaments or gifts made from the wool of the Bluefaced Leicester sheep she raises on hand. Collectibles on the stand ranged from the serious to the silly – a peace lion and a frog with “eye patches,” not to mention the standard snowmen. And what else, of course? Sheep.
“I like to make high-quality ornaments or gifts that people can cherish for years instead of your commercially produced ornaments,” Szewc said.
Judging by the enthusiasm at the Liongate Farm stand, it was obvious that customers, like Kim Spann, liked what they saw.
“My first stop,” Spann said, referring to Liongate Farm. “I love his little critters. They’re so cute.”
She had Szewc sew a reindeer and a pumpkin, along with some of her ornaments.
As for the other vendors at the Holiday Market, there was plenty on offer Saturday – from Siskiyou beehive honey to chocolate peanut butter fudge, essential oil to olive oil, signs of metal lawn with wooden signs with Santa’s cows proclaiming “HAVE A MOOO -RY CHRISTMAS!”
Sara Boettcher, co-owner of Rogue Water IET, has been coming to the vacation market as a business owner for a few years, even before her current business was established two years ago. Rogue Water IET makes lawn and metal wall art using a water jet table.
“We love (the Holiday Market) — it’s a great way to meet new people. We see a lot of happy faces,” Boettcher said.
One of those happy faces was Medford resident Leona Westdahl, who has lived in the area for years but has never visited the holiday market until now.
“I’ve always wanted to go there. I just never made the time,” Westdahl said. “I really don’t have a plan. I want to eat. I smell delicious food.
She listed a jacket for her dog as something she could buy at the event, but at the very least the holiday market would serve as a way for her to get to know other businesses in the valley where she could shop later.
All the while, Christmas tunes, from traditional (“Santa Claus is coming to town”) to modern (“Christmas” by Mariah Carey) blared from the speakers.
“I’m a Grinch; I’m a scrooge – I don’t care about vacations,” Westdahl said with a laugh. “Just kidding. It’s very festive and beautiful.
Julee Ferrara, from Eagle Point, has been coming to the Holiday Market for three years, determined to buy presents for her family. This includes her 20-year-old twins who live at home and are trying to find an apartment.
“I just realized it’s Christmas – I need to buy presents,” Ferrara said. “As long as you don’t buy anything extravagant and go crazy, you can still stick to your budget.”
His comments come as many fear inflation, which the National Retail Federation referred to in a recent press release. While 62% of shoppers surveyed in September said spending was important and would cut other areas of their budget to meet vacation needs, 43% said they would not. did not earn enough money to cover these costs.
Westdahl maintained that she was careful about spending wherever she went. Like Ferrera, she sees the Holiday Market as an attraction for the inhabitants of the valley, partly for what it is not: a shopping center.
“One thing that’s nice with something like this is if I’m spending to support a local artist, then it helps,” Westdahl said.
The Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo, 1 Peninger Road, Central Point, opens at 10 a.m. Sunday and closes at 3 p.m. Free entry. For more information, log on to attheexpo.com/holiday-market/
Contact journalist Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or kopsahl@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KevJourno
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