Shoppers, vendors head out for final Greensburg Holiday Market

About 17 vendors bundled in coats and wearing hats and gloves gathered along South Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg Sunday afternoon for the final holiday market of the year.

The event, which featured products ranging from jewelry and soaps to wine and vodka, coincided with the Holiday Open House, in which Greensburg businesses opened their doors for last minute Christmas shoppers and those hoping to support small businesses who may be struggling through the coronavirus pandemic.

“A lot of small business right now are struggling so for us to be able to give small businesses a platform and a location to be able to sell their products hopefully helps a lot of them be able to have a better season,” said Jessica Hickey, director of the Downtown Greensburg Project, which organized the events.

Garry Kelly, owner of Salem Spirits, a moonshine distillery in Salem, said the market, “brings some people out, gives them an opportunity to buy different things and see different local crafts. It’s just good for the local crafts people and just for people in general to get out and be able to do something.”

Ryan Jones, owner of Jones Maple Farm in Export displayed maple syrup at the market with the help of his kids Tommie, 7, and Ruby, 10.

“We tap out 500 trees so this is all a product of that work and we’re selling our maple syrup today,” Ryan Jones said.

Few people filtered out of the market when it began at noon, but crowds slowly picked up as time went on.

Joey Lux, 22, and Katarina Trask, 21, both of Greensburg, attended the market as a way to get out of the house. Several businesses, including bars and restaurants, are closed to indoor dining until next month in an effort to curb to spread of covid-19.

“It’s a cute event,” Trask said. “It’s fun that there’s things going on in Greensburg. Growing up a lot of stuff like this didn’t happen around here so it’s really cool to have it around now.”

According to Hickey, members of the Downtown Greensburg Project hope to start mini markets next month. While there are no set dates, the event would take place at Invisible Man Brewing, which is located along South Pennsylvania Avenue. The annual night markets will kick off in May.