Mistletoe Market continues to bring large crowd

Shoppers from all over visited Perry this past weekend for the 11th annual Mistletoe Market at the Georgia National Fairgrounds, where there were 96 vendors.

The event is hosted each year by the Balvaunuca Club. Organized in 1980, the Balvaunuca Club has been an active civic club for women in the Perry area. The club is currently comprised of 35 active members. Each year, the group hosts the Mistletoe Market in Perry during the third weekend of November, where they see more than 8,000 shoppers throughout the three-day market.

Last year, they had more than 12,000 shoppers, which they accomplished again this year. Proceeds from the one-time $5 admission fee and the vendors’ fee will help benefit charities in this area.

Lisa Hays, chairman of the Balvaunuca Club, said she had previously hosted a Mistletoe Market with two of her neighbors at the Perry Country Club in 2003, but when she became a member of the Balvaunuca Club in 2005, she suggested that they start their own Mistletoe Market and grow it bigger.

“We seem to be fortunate in that the show is growing in the number of shoppers that we have because we have such great vendors,” Hays said, noting the vendors are high quality.

She noted they had 300 people in the building within 30 minutes when opening Friday.

“The greatest thing about it is the amount of money we’re able to give back to our community and middle Georgia, because the spirit of giving is out here at the Mistletoe Market,” she said Friday afternoon. “We are excited that we have the opportunities that we can afford people at this time of year. Particularity in our area, there are people all over who need things. It’s wonderful that we’re able to provide every year to different people.”

Hays said last year, they gave nearly $50,000, and for the past three years, they’ve given nearly $50,000 to organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, Family Promise of Greater Houston County and more.

She said a good bit of time goes into getting the Mistletoe Market prepared each year. She said before this year’s event is over, they’re already working on next year’s show. It’s a year-round preparation. She said they have a system and it works, where everyone keeps the same job every year.

“We’ve been very blessed,” Hays said. “We’re thankful that we’ve grown to where we are because where we are now is not where we started, but you learn something every year.”

There were different entertainers throughout the three-day event while people shopped. Vendors included those from Perry, Byron, Macon, Hawkinsville, Tifton, St. Simons and Alabama.

Sara Spivey, owner of Sara Spivey Designs of Macon, said she’s been a vendor at the event for years. She said this is the only big show that she comes to because it is so well put together by the Balvaunuca Club.

Donna Currie of Byron, owner of Jada Bug Soaps, said this was her first year participating in the Mistletoe Market. She noted the reason why she started her business was because when adopting her daughter, Jada, who’s from China, she had sensitive skin. She began making soaps and this progressed into a business.

Morgan Walker, originally from Perry/Warner Robins, and Kendall Turnipseed brought their business, The Rolling Runway (mobile fashion boutique in a 1963 Airstream Overlander) to the Mistletoe Market. They both live in Athens and said they have been in business for almost two years, selling women’s clothes and accessories. They travel all over Georgia to various events.

Other vendors included Bethany Martin with Truth Be Told Art, a company that was started in Macon, and Lynn Bassett, owner of Ashley Marie’s Boutique.

Ebony Jordan, owner of The Glam Doll, said this year was her fourth year participating in the Mistletoe Market. For 12 years, she and her husband were stationed here at Robins Air Force Base. Now that they’re in Oklahoma, this hasn’t stopped her from returning to the market, which she says she enjoys every year.

Jordan, who went to college for fashion, said she sells doll clothes that are all made and designed by her. She said she was able to turn a hobby into a job that she loves. She’s been making doll clothes for four years.

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