<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>By Kelly Friar, The Junior League of Tampa
The Most Wonderful Event of the Year, Is Even More Wonderful – It’s the most wonderful time of the year, The Junior League of Tampa’s Holiday Gift Market is back this weekend Nov 7-10. And it gets better each year.
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In its 16th year, Holiday Gift Market welcomes more than 200 merchants to the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo and Entertainment Halls, attracting over 20,000 holiday shoppers. For many shoppers, The Junior League of Tampa Holiday Gift Market offers personalized and unique gifts they can’t find anywhere else, including everything from art, home décor, clothing, jewelry, gourmet foods, toys and so much more.
“With over 200 unique and hand selected vendors, there really is something for everyone,” said Annie McKibben and Laura Warren, Holiday Gift Market 2019 Co-Chairs.
FAMILY TRADITIONS
Beyond the shopping experience with your favorite vendors, some of Tampa’s favorite family traditions of Holiday Gift Market are also back, including the princess breakfasts and of course Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be onsite to begin taking wish lists.
“The princess breakfasts will be back on Saturday and Sunday morning,” McKibben and Warren said. “We are also happy to hold a new event on Friday morning called PJs & Pancakes, an event that is geared toward younger children who may not be in school yet. Arrive in your favorite pajamas for a special pancake breakfast with Santa including a photo and a special reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas!”
And with the family and children events gaining more attention and popularity each year, Holiday Gift Market is also adding a character tea event on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Guests are invited to enjoy a traditional high tea with some favorite storybook characters.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
And while this event fills our personal holiday spirit bucket, it also fills the needs bucket of our entire Tampa Bay community.
“Our overall theme this year is Our Season of Giving,” McKibben & Warren said. “We want to remind all members of the Junior League of Tampa and shoppers that HGM isn’t just a holiday market, but our largest fundraiser.”
Related: The Junior League of Tampa’s Diaper Bank continues to grow withe each new donation
100% of net proceeds from the Holiday Gift Market fund the Junior League of Tampa’s community projects and programs within the Tampa Bay Community. Over the past 10 years the Holiday Gift Market has raised $1.5 million that has gone directly back into the Tampa Bay Community. And with the help of event sponsors such as 2019 presenting sponsor Publix and silver sponsor the Florida Cattlewomen’s Association, the Tampa community truly understands the impact this holiday event has throughout the year.
This year’s Holiday Gift Market will kick off on November 7th with an exclusive Preview Party that is open to the public with purchase of a special event ticket. The market will officially open Friday, November 8th and close Sunday, November 10th. Tickets for the market and special events can be purchased in advance online or at the door.
For more information, visit jltampa.org
Originally appeared in the November 2019 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.