Early bird shoppers had the opportunity to start their Christmas shopping this week with the first holiday market leading up to Santa's visit.
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, the annual Christmas Market took place at the Stettler Agriplex, hosted by the Stettler Agricultural Society.
The society had to hold the market in October as its riding arena, where the market is held, is filled with dirt at the start of November to facilitate indoor riding.
"Sometimes we try to put it off, if the weather is good," organizer Jodi Chapman said. "But you can never know. This year's weather is definitely not good enough."
The arena was packed with tables and hung with bright and sparkly Christmas decorations, transforing the grey and white decor into a winter wonderland market.
Despite the early introduction of Christmas themes to market shoppers, the Agriplex did brisk business both in the morning, right after the market opened and in the evening, after work.
"There was a good crowd, especially in the morning as people came to get a look at everything before it was gone," Chapman said.
The market is particularly appealing, Chapman said, due to its unique and handcrafted wares, items that cannot be found on store shelves.
"And, of course, the baking," she said, confirming that holiday sweets were flying off vendor tables. "You get a lot of different vendors with a lot of unique items."
With about 100 tables set up between nearly 80 vendors, the event had a bit of everything, from hand-knit mittens, hats and toys to hand-carved woodwork. Some people brought in pies while others sold cookies, and preserves were out in force.
"We even had some of those mermaid tail blankets," Chapman said. "And lots of yummy baking."
While some tables featured home business sellers offering up wares like sturdy Tupperware or delicious-smelling Scentsy products, the vast majority of the tables were featuring the home-crafted, home-baked wares that draw in the largest crowds.
The market, which has run for more than a decade, is free to enter, though the society collected non-perishable food items and monetary donations for the Stettler Food Bank Society. The market is not a giant money-maker for the society, who only makes about $1,000 off the day. However, it is a service Chapman said the society is happy to provide for the community.
"It's one of our larger events," Chapman said, putting it behind the summer's Steel Wheel Stampede and Roughstock Rodeo in the spring. While the rummage sale eclipses the number of people coming to market, it is not a society event, Chapman noted.
There were door prizes made up of items donated by vendors. The two gift bags and a handcrafted wooden sign were drawn at the end of day.
The gift bags were won by Fay Knapp and Misty Ramstad, while Jane Skocdopole won the sign.
The Christmas Market replaces the regularly scheduled Farmers' Market, the final one of the season at the Agriplex. Once the dirt goes out in the spring, the market will return as will vendors, bringing back the home-grown, hand-crafted, baked and preserved goods.
"The Stettler and District Agricultural Society would like to thank everyone – customers and vendors – making this year's market another success," Chapman said.