Keegan Natali enjoys the artificial snow slide at the Holiday Market.
The Holiday Market has been a
staple of the holiday season in
Eugene for more than 12 years
By Sara Jarrett
Oregon Daily Emerald
The soft fluttering of song
stayed close to the tiny
mouth it wafted from, as if
fearful of being separated
from the angelic being that creat
ed it. The child was so full of
light; her tiny frame seemed to
hover above the concrete floor
that was supposed to support it.
Sleek blond hair hung lifeless
between her back and the pole
she rested against; and cradled in
the pit of the crescent moon
shape of her effortlessly crossed
legs, sat a paper coffee cup.
Clair Shepherd sat in the mid
dle of the walkway front of her
mom’s booth and successfully
made a little dough of her own.
The 6-year-old turned many
heads thatgpening wegfaa&aU.
the Saturday Market’s Holiday
Market, proving the smallest
booth does not have to be the
least popular. Between the bleak,
warehouse walls of the Lane
County Fairgrounds’ Exhibit
Hall, life pulsates.
Though the outdoor Saturday
Market has existed for the last
thirty years, and is boasted as the
oldest continuously operating
open-air craft marketplace in the
United States, the Holiday Mar
ket is only 12 years old. Estab
lished to provide local artisans
and their customers with shelter
far from the grasp of winter’s
threatening hands, the venue
also gives Lane County an afford
able, unique alternative to the pit
of consumerism, a.k.a. Valley
River Center.
“A lot of [vendors! also depend
on it to boost their income during
the holiday season,” said Kim
Still, Saturday Market coordina
tor.
Anything from handblown
glass tree ornaments to velvety,
party dresses can be found each
weekend through Dec. 19 from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and during the
three special"last-minute, week
. day shopping opportunities on
Wednesday, Dec. 22, through Fri
day, Dec. 24. The last, Christmas
Eve Market, will be open shorter
hours from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.
Space allotment depends on
how many markets a vendor has
previously participated in, so
those with the most involvement
get first pick. The most favorable
time is usually in the middle of
the season, leaving the last few
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days open to newcomers. It’s
good to go back during this time
to see the new products and pos
sibly get “some pretty darn good
deals,” Still said.
Switchplate covers, a unique
gift idea exclusive to the Holiday
Market, will bring character to
any room. In 1982, when creator
April Van was 17 years old, she
plastered her bedroom with
posters. The only thing left un
covered was her light switch, so
she plastered that too.
Soon, her friends began asking
if she would cover theirs. Her
hobby was born. In true de
coupage style, each piece of work
is laden with paper cutouts that
run the gamut from “horribly
nasty to sweet” themes, she said.
One of her craziest projects had
to do with a picture of a muscle
man with the switch strategically
placed.
“Everything is a possibility,”
Van said, who caters to the un
usual and will make any order to
taste. One of her specialties is us
ing photo copies of customers’
personal photos. She has deco
rated switchplate covers with
everything from old black and
white family photos to pictures
Jayden and Damon Loomis enjoy the mechnical hot air ballon ride at the North Pole
winter carnival, which is part of the Holiday Market at the Lane County Fairgrounds.
of feet, to teddy bears, with the
aid of a clear plastic template that
her husband invented. They are
currently in the process of getting
the tool patented.
If you or someone you know
wants to try a hand at making
switchplate covers but don’t
know where to start, Van also
sells lightswitch cover kits at her
booth. Each kit comes complete
with two blank covers, one tem
plate which should last over a
hundred times, glue, a roller, and
full instructions.
For a more conventional gift
idea with a little flare of the ex
traordinary, Sue Theolass’ booth
of beeswax candles is a good
place to start. This hobby-turned
business began when Theolass
rented space to a candle maker
who lost interest in the trade. Af
ter taking it over seven years ago,
and co-founding the artists col
lective Circle of Hands in down
town Eugene, the candle trade is
thriving.
In addition to craft booths, the
Holiday Market premiers its first
snow slide and North Pole win
ter carnival to occupy the chil
dren. Snow for the slide comes
from the fairgrounds’ ice skating
rink.
“Last weekend, attendance
was really, really good,” Still
said.
While the market was packed
with wall-to-wall adult cus
tomers, their children were wait
ing in line for either a carnival
ride or a trip down the snow
slope.
“Kids are making play dates
for them,” Still said of the carni
val. It seems to be a tremendous
success, but while parents
thought it was tough to convince
their children to come shopping
in the first place, the tables have
turned. Now the battle lies with
trying to get them to come home.
It’s worth it though, this may be
their only chance this winter to
throw a snowball.
THIS IS THE LIFE.
Now you can have it all:
• Washer/dryer in each apt
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• Individual leases
• Computer labs
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• Reserved Parking
• Fitness center
• Rec room
• Swimming pool
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338-4000
007422
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COMMONS
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Property address: 90 Commons Drive
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