Students and local residents looking to find holiday cheer around town might find the answer at Lincoln Square Village’s Holiday Market.
The Holiday Market, 201 Lincoln Square in Urbana, is a six-weekend event designed for local vendors to sell everything from produce to baked goods to holiday crafts.
Susan Toalson, executive director of the Urbana Business Association which sponsors the event, said the holiday market is an extension of Lincoln Square’s Farmer’s Market, which takes place during the fall for produce vendors to sell their stock.
“It (the Farmer’s Market) heats up and comes inside,” Toalson said.
She said the holiday version is in its seventh year and gets stronger each time.
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“It benefits our local businesses,” Toalson said. “It’s really a win-win event.”
Jeff Meyer, Villa Grove resident and owner of Meyer produce, said he brought a variety of food items to sell, such as peppers, tomatoes and squash.
“I sell wreaths, too,” he added.
Meyer said he participated in the market last year, but did not do “exceptionally well.”
“I don’t think a lot of people know that it’s still here,” he said.
Tyla Conerly, marketing coordinator for UBA, said the event is a lot of fun for both vendors and shoppers.
“It’s just a more festive atmosphere, holiday version of the outside market,” Conerly said.
Susan Pryde, Urbana resident, is selling wreaths at this year’s market.
This is her second year participating in the event.
“It’s kind of fun, and I love to make Christmas wreaths,” Pryde said.
Pryde said she sold wreaths for only one day last year, but that “it went really well.”
She said she was selling about 12 wreaths at the Nov. 14 market, and would bring about 30 wreaths to the Nov. 21 market.
There is a lot that goes into making wreaths, Pryde said.
“I gather all kinds of shiny, fun objects, and I collect them and I sort them by colors and I decide to make a wreath,” she said.
Toalson said business was a little slow the morning of the Nov. 14 market, but that she expected it to pick up until the end of the year.
“The best thing you can give for the holidays is something that is home grown,” Toalson said.
The Lincoln Square Village Holiday Market will continue to run every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Dec. 20.
