Winter market warms holiday shopping

Mike and Linda Renken of Lockridge sat behind the table in the basement of the First United Methodist Church Saturday morning, Nov. 24, with half the table decorated with handmade jewelry and the other half filled with handmade leather.

Around the basement of the church, other vendors had set up tables to market their wares. With both Mike and Linda having taken up their craft about two years ago, they decided it was time to share some of their makings with the public. The couple have been vending during the summer and fall farmers market. Beginning last year they decided to give the winter market a try. Mike commented that this is the first year the market is set up in the church basement and he enjoys the change.

'The weather has turned out nice this week, so it has been a little slow,” he said. 'That is par for the course. You never know how many people are going to turn out.”

He commented he is waiting for the chocolate walk that will be part of the market on Dec. 1.

Market manager Mary Garmoe said, as the five-week market entered its second week, the numbers were a little off. She said the nice weather Saturday is probably the reason. During the first market on Nov. 17, when it was cold and snowy, the new venue had been packed with people. She also commented Nov. 24 was Thanksgiving weekend and many people were out of town.

She said this is the eighth year the winter market has been held. Previously the market was held at Quarters but changed because that is unavailable this year.

'We had a lot of craft and baked-good vendors who wanted something to do during the winter, so we started the winter market,” she said.

Garmoe said there is even produce offered at the market. While temperatures have been cold and, on some days, snowy, she said several vendors own greenhouses and are able to supply produce this late in the year. Some of the tables had offerings of pears and apples. In the past tomatoes have been offered well into December.

Markets will run every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon through Dec. 15. Garmoe also said a chocolate walk that will take place this coming weekend will include each vendor providing a chocolate item - cookies, brownies, white popcorn - to share with customers.