Ligonier Christmas Market is early, outdoors this year

Although Halloween is still two weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas shopping — at least if you’re a fan of Ligonier Country Market’s annual Christmas Market.

Traditionally held indoors on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to coincide with Small Business Saturday, this year’s holiday market has been moved up and moved outdoors.

The market is set for noon-4 p.m. Saturday on the Country Market grounds at the west end of Ligonier.

The change was made due to pandemic-related indoor gathering restrictions, said market executive director Cari Frei: “We had two choices, cancel or do it early.”

Frei noted, though, that there actually are some advantages to the change.

“With the traditional Christmas market, we max out at about 75 vendors,” she said, due to spaces available in the Ligonier Valley YMCA and Ligonier Valley Library.

On Saturday, about 120 vendors will be present, offering much more than just holiday items.

“Because of the time of year, some of our produce vendors will be there; so that’s a bonus,” she said. “Some of our hot food vendors will be there as well.”

Others will have Halloween and Thanksgiving decor.

Happy environment

Cherise Burau of Murrysville, owner of Rustic Frames by Cherise, will be on site with one of her best-sellers from last year’s Christmas Market — a wooden tabletop Christmas tree standing about a foot tall and topped with a floating picture frame.

Her wares also include matted and framed vintage postcards featuring outdoor winter scenes, along with empty frames of various sizes. All are made from wood reclaimed from old barns and salvage yard.

“Even if everyone is not in Christmas mode yet,” she said, with so many fairs and festivals canceled, “I don’t know where else people are going to get these kinds of things this year.”

“I can see an advantage to (the early date),” said Pamela Jean Werner of Norvelt, a longtime market vendor of handmade fabric shawls, scarves and wraps. On Saturday, she’ll also have holiday-themed rag quilt table runners.

“People do want to get out,” she said. “With the weather still being nice, people are in the mood for some happy times, and the market environment is very happy. People come out week after week just to be in that environment.”

Vendor Sue Hrubes of Derry Township also enjoys that convivial atmosphere, sharing her love of art with shoppers looking at her winter and holiday scenes hand-painted on old wood.

“I’ve been able to talk to a lot of people who want to do art and are afraid to start,” she said. “Part of my love of doing this is being able to teach others.”

Frei noted that rows of vendors will be set up for one-way traffic and visitors will be asked to wear masks.

“Hours are 12 to 4, a later time than the regular market, so the day will get a little warmer,” she said. “Eight o’clock is still a little chilly.”

For shoppers buying large items, Frei said, vendors will help carry them to cars. Shoppers also can leave large purchases at a pickup area behind the information tent while they get their cars, reducing carrying distance.

Regular Christmas Market shoppers who are unable to make the earlier date can reach out to organizers at ligoniercountrymarket.com to get contact information for vendors, she added.