TEXARKANA - After choosing a new location for the first time in 34 years, the annual Texarkana Junior League's Mistletoe Market didn't seem to lose any patrons along the way.
Hundreds of holiday shoppers had no problem finding the fair at its new venue, which was held Friday inside the Arkansas Convention Center.
"We now call it the Mistletoe Market instead of the Mistletoe Fair because we wanted a new name to go along with our new location," said Monica Harrison, Junior League president. "This year, we wanted a new location because we felt like that would generate more interest in the event."
Prior to this year, the event used the Four States Fairgrounds.
"For at least the last nine years, we've been attracting about 8,000 people each year, and they come not only from Texarkana, but from the surrounding area," Harrison said.
"We think we will have at least that number this year for our three-day market. With this event taking place the weekend before Thanksgiving, this timing has still proven to be a great way to kick off the holiday shopping."
Besides Christmas decorations, some of the more popular items sold from year to year include wine, paintings, pottery and other artwork, as well as toys.
"This is the Junior League's primary fundraiser for the year," Harrison said. "We use the money to support our mission, which is to offer volunteer training in the community that focuses on literacy as well as helping children in poverty. The money provides food during the weekends, along with shoes and clothing to children in need and we supply books and encourage children to read. We also give grant money to teachers who want to conduct innovative classroom projects - projects which wouldn't otherwise be possible without funding."
Harrison said the age range of those children receiving aid start from pre-school all the way up to middle school.
"We very much appreciate the support of the whole community," she said. "It means so much to have the community behind us."
The market will be open from noon to 4 p.m. today and Sunday, and children will be able to have their pictures taken with Santa on Saturday.