Thousands shop at Mistletoe Market in Perry

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – If you’re looking to get started on your Christmas shopping, one group says this weekend is the time to buy. 

On the first day at the market, vendors gave to thee…

Three tall Christmas trees, two new small business owners, and one champion head football coach — Vince Dooley. 

“It’s been fun to watch the event just grow and get better and better each year,” Lisa Hays, the chairwoman of the Mistletoe Market, said. 

She says the event is off to a great start. 

“Ladies in our organization wanted to go Christmas shopping together, so rather than going Christmas shopping on a bus around the southeastern United States, we decided to call in our favorite stores and invite them to bring their stores to us,” she said. 

For the last ten years, she and others in the Balvaunuca Club, have made Christmas shopping easier for middle Georgia and others too. 

There are more than 100 vendors at the market. you can find clothes, arts and crafts, ornaments, and more.

“We have just been so pleasantly surprised at how the comraderie with all the other vendors. Everybody is so nice,” Christy Cronier said. 

She and her best friend co-own Two Wired. It’s their first time at the market. 
 
“There’s not too much of the same thing and you can find a little something for everybody,” Cronier said. 

All of the proceeds at the event benefit local charities. 

“We’re trying to make the event better for our community. We’re the premiere event in Georgia now,” Lisa said. 

She says it doesn’t matter how much they raise, she and her club want to help as much as they can. 

“We will make whatever we make and we will give whatever we make,” she said. 

Last year the Mistletoe Market raised about $45,000.

MISTLETOE MARKET SCHEDULE AT THE GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS:

Friday, November 20, 2015 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 21, 2015 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 22, 2015 Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Admission is $5.