Are you feeling the holiday spirit now that the calendar has flipped to November? Don’t fight it. Head to the corner of Cherry Street and Pickwick Avenue Saturday, Nov. 11, for the Rountree Holiday Bazaar.
The event runs from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and is a collaborative effort between the neighborhood’s businesses.
“In the past, all of the businesses have done different Christmas things, and last year we did a Holiday Bazaar for the first year with everyone,” said Haden Long, founder and lead interior designer of Ellecor Interior Design. She is helping organize the bazaar. “All of the businesses have been trying to work together more, like when we had the Witches Weekend (Oct. 13-14). We’re just trying to combine forces and do things more as a group to benefit the neighborhood and all of the local businesses that preside at the corner of Cherry and Pickwick.”
Sales, special events and sleigh rides
Those businesses include Culture Flock (607 S. Pickwick Ave., Suite A), which will be debuting holiday merchandise and hosting a pop-up with Headley Hat Company. The Local Bevy (617 S. Pickwick Ave.) will be doing giveaways and pop-ups during the Rountree Holiday Bazaar.
Just around the corner, Artistree Pottery (1423 E. Cherry St., Suite 103) is hosting a special event featuring the Grinch, starting at 10 a.m. Plans for the morning include ornament painting, songs, story time and a photo opportunity. The cost is $15 per person. Seating is limited and spots can be reserved by calling (417) 368-0004.
As for Ellecor (623 S. Pickwick Ave.), they’ll have holiday specials inside the shop as well as photo ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Walk-ins are welcome. Outside, Ellecor is sponsoring free sleigh rides around the neighborhood, a relatively new tradition.
“In the past, we’ve done a private weekend with Santa and the sleigh with horses, and we decided to open that up to the public,” Long said.
There are still a few spots available for sleigh rides and guests can sign up on Ellecor’s Facebook page.
Lighting the neighborhood Christmas tree
A new twist to this year’s Rountree Holiday Bazaar is a neighborhood Christmas tree, to be located near the intersection of Cherry and Weller on Tie and Timber Beer Company’s lot.
“We’ve always wanted to, but have never had a neighborhood Christmas tree,” Long said. “We’ll have a little quick lighting ceremony (at 6:30 p.m.).”
The plan is for it to be a real tree.
“We have someone who’s supposed to be getting us a live tree, but we’re not 100% sure that’s going to happen,” Long said with a laugh. “We have an artificial tree in a box on backup in case he doesn’t show up with the live tree.”
Making Rountree a destination for early shopping
Long said last year’s Rountree Holiday Bazaar was in December, the week after Thanksgiving, and cold weather was an issue. The decision was made to pick a warmer weekend.
“We’re small businesses. We can’t compete with big-box stores and even on Small Business Saturday there are so many small businesses in Springfield,” Long said. “We though, ‘Let’s make Rountree this destination for early shopping and get everyone in the spirit.’ Since it’s warmer, we’re hoping that will encourage people to stand outside and participate on the patios of Cherry Picker, The Royal and Tie and Timber, as well as do a little shopping in the shops on the corner.
“We’re just wanting to get people to support local and shop local. We have a corner full of locally owned businesses, and some of them have been here for 25 years and some this is their first holiday there. We are really working on getting people to know about the corner of Cherry and Pickwick and how much is going on and how much it’s grown in the past 10 years. New businesses seem to be popping up and everyone seems to be doing really good, so we’re excited to share that with everyone.”
That’s not the only option for early adopters of the holiday season. Here are three other ways to get in the spirit and support small businesses this weekend:
J.L. Long Traders Holiday Market
Not far from Rountree, on the west side of downtown, J.L. Long Traders (318 W. Walnut St.) is hosting a Holiday Market Saturday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Owners Kaleen Long and Kelle Rathe will be serving up seasonal refreshments while you shop new holiday merchandise. All Thanksgiving and Christmas items, excluding Bauble Stockings, will be 15% off and every purchase of more than $10 receives a free J.L. Long Traders tin camping mug.
Schofield + Gray Holiday Antique and Gift Market
Up for a little bit of a drive? Head to Schofield + Gray in Fordland for their Holiday Antique and Gift Market. It runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, and admission is $5 at the gate.
Inside you’ll find a pop-up market with unique antique, vintage, holiday, home décor, boutique and gift vendors. Santa Claus is scheduled to make an appearance from 10 a.m.-noon. There will also be live music by Dallas Jones from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., food trucks and desserts.
Painting with Santa at Firehouse Pottery
Create some Christmas art and say hello to Santa at Firehouse Pottery (4150 S. Lone Pine Ave.) Sunday, Nov. 12, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Guests will paint a 2023 Santa keepsake cookie plate — featuring handprints from their child and Santa — and a Christmas tree ornament. There will be other activities in the store, including writing letters to Santa. The cost is $55 per child and registration is available online.
For more information, call Firehouse Pottery at (417) 881-8381 or follow them on Facebook.
