Olde Towne Holiday Market marks start of festive season

By Sherry Lucas

Peppermint nudges aside pumpkin spice as the scent of the season as the calendar rolls inexorably toward the Christmas season. Clinton’s Olde Towne Holiday Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, on the brick streets, kicks it into high gear.

Since this particular Olde Town Market is a bit bigger, with more shoppers, than the other three each year, shoppers get an extra hour to browse and buy.

This year, it gets another unexpected boost.

“Since the weather got us at the last one, we are going to reschedule the Pet Parade,” Main Street Clinton Program Director Tara Lytal said.

Early October’s Hurricane Isaias brought worries for the Fall for Clinton Market and its signature Pet Parade draw, which had to cancel because of wind gust threats.

“We couldn’t safely put up tents,” Lytal said, and Main Street Clinton made the call after consulting with the fire chief and National Weather Service. “The wind was unbelievable. It would have ripped through those tents, even with weights.

“People were so disappointed,” she said, particularly pet parents who’d bought costumes for their little furry friends to parade. “It has a very loyal following. People love to strut their mutts!” Perhaps Santa hats and elfin inspiration can work its way into the event this time.

So, the postponed Pet Parade will be held at 10 a.m. on November 14, in front of Cups. The Rev. Bob Blanton will do the Blessing of the Pets before the parade, and the usual prizes will be awarded afterward.

Market vendor booth fees were credited and transferred, so shoppers can still expect to find most of their favorites at the Holiday Market. Plan on finding handcrafted holiday and home decor, Christmas-themed items, candles, soaps and body products, needlework crafts, pottery, woodworking, jewelry, cottage food items such as honey, seasonings, breads and so much more.

“A lot of them do some kind of Christmas decor or Christmas vibe,” said Lytal.

With its calendar position so close to Thanksgiving, “Usually, the weather is cooperative. We usually get a little crisp feeling in the air. … Any time it’s cooler, people just really get more in the spirit,” Lytal said.

For more in the holiday vein, grab some hot chocolate at Cups or the recently opened Salus Market. Also, Lytal is reaching out to the Brick Street Players about possible excerpts from their production that weekend, a night of one-acts featuring “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus” and “The Gift of the Magi.”

From sixty-five to seventy vendors typically turn out for the Holiday Market, which attracts about 2,500 to 3,000 people, weather permitting.