Southern Christmas Show gets season rolling
The 12 days of Christmas traditionally bring calling birds, French hens and turtledoves, but this year, Christmas shoppers have the chance to pick up a few more items.
The Southern Christmas Show at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart is bringing Christmas to the Carolinas a little early.
“Basically, it is the place to start off your Christmas shopping,” said Ann DellaValle, a spokesperson for Southern Shows, Inc. “We have the magic of Olde Town. It looks like a Dickens Christmas Carol. They’re old time shops with fake snow and toys in the window.”
The show gets started on Thursday, Nov. 8., and runs through Nov. 18. Doors are open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays, Monday and Tuesday. Adult admission to the show is $8 at the door, $7 in advance, and $3 for children 6-12. Children 6 and younger are free. There is a fee of $6 for parking at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart.
More than 600 vendors will fill the space of about four football fields with everything from pottery to strudel. For those looking for Christmas decorations, there will be handmade ornaments, Christmas skirts and stockings, tree toppers and garland. In addition to Christmas items, there is handcrafted jewelry, bags and purses, birdhouses, art pieces, clothing and much more.
“It’s stuff you can not find at the mall,” DellaValle said. “You’re not going to go to the mall and find a hand-crafted Santa Claus or blown glass ornaments. This you can tailor to someone.”
Hand-crafted unique items dominate the show, but that’s not all visitors will find. Christmas Tree Lane features real Fraser Fir trees decorated by various vendors at the show. The ornaments and items on the tree are available at the various booths. In addition, WSOC-TV Celebrity Corners features nine designer rooms decorated by local interior designers providing visitors with ideas for doors, mantels and holiday decorations.
“There’s always something new,” said Julie Dibella, who’s designing one of the rooms for the WSOC-TV Celebrity Corners. “Designers are bringing new ideas for decorations, some are very contemporary, some are very traditional. (There are) ideas for Christmas trees and the latest colors for Christmas trees.”
Holiday ideas aren’t the only things people will find. Santa Claus will be on hand to take pictures, and holiday entertainment will take over the stage daily. Choirs, dancers and storytellers get shoppers in the mood for Christmas entertaining from the Holiday Stage.
“(There’s) something new all the time,” said David Zimmerman, the president of Southern Shows, Inc. “Church choirs, flute orchestras, puppet shows, local singers - the list goes on.”
If you go:
- What: The Southern Christmas Show
- Where: Charlotte Merchandise Mart, 800 Briar Creek Road, Charlotte
- When: Thursday, Nov. 8 - Sunday, Nov. 18. Doors are open daily from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays, Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Details: Tickets are $8 at the door and $7 in advance, $3 for youth ages 6-12, and children 6 and younger are free. Parking is $6.
- For more information, visit http://www.southernshows.com
By Christie Barlow
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