ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
For decades, the SPBH Folk Art Festival was an annual holiday event taking place the first weekend in December in Liberal.
The 2023 Folk Art Festival, however, was the last edition of that event, but Andrea Nix and Jane Eisenhauer have found a new way for Christmas shoppers to find unique items for presents for friends and family.
“What would the holidays be in Liberal without a holiday Christmas show?” Eisenhauer said.
In that spirit, Nix and Eisenhauer decided they wanted to keep the tradition alive, and from that decision, planning is underway for the new Holiday Marketplace Expo for the weekend of Dec. 7 and 8 at the Seward County Activity Center in Liberal.
“We are very excited to be a part of this traditional weekend of Christmas spirit in our community,” Eisenhauer said.
Eisenhauer called the expo the gift shopping event of the season.
“Local shops, craftsman and entrepreneurs will be there to showcase their passions of not just homemade products, but products of all kinds for your gift giving needs, or maybe you want to buy something special for yourself,” she said. “There will be vendors from years past, along with some new and interesting vendors you haven’t seen before.”
Vendors for the Holiday Marketplace Expo are not only local, but coming from surrounding areas, including Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado.
“An event like this is for the hardworking people who have their side hustles, or for some it is their main hustle, to have a place to showcase their goods,” Eisenhauer said. “It is important to not only support local entrepreneurs, but small businesses as well. As we always say, ‘Shop local and shop small.’”
So what can shoppers expect at the expo? For starters, Eisenhauer said no Christmas is complete without a traditional Santa picture.
“For the kids, Nana’s Photography will be there taking pictures with Santa and maybe even the Grinch,” she said. “Also Lonestar Friends Church Youth Group will be providing a delicious lunch, snacks and drinks. Be sure to come hungry, and support the youth group concession stand.”
Other items available at the Holiday Marketplace Expo are many different kinds of jewelry, baked goods, candles, a variety of pickled items, decorated tumblers, beaded, key chains, T-shirts, clothing, leatherworks, knife sharpening, cutlery, some of the best root beer around and many more items too numerous to mention.
In the true meaning of Christmas, Eisenhauer said she and Nix wanted to do something special for a local food pantry, so they decided to collect non-perishable food items.
“Anyone who brings a non-perishable food item to the show, either Saturday or Sunday, will receive a ticket to be put in a drawing for a gift basket,” Eisenhauer said. “The drawing for the gift basket will take place on Sunday evening following the show. The winner does not have to be present to win.”
The show will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Anyone interested in being a vendor can contact Nix at 620-544-9612 or Eisenhauer at 620-629-7284 for an application.
“We are very excited to be keeping the tradition of having a vendor show here in Liberal, Kansas, during the holiday season,” Eisenhauer said. “We hope to see you at the Holiday Marketplace Expo Dec. 7 and 8 at the Seward County Activity Center.”
