USJ’s Holiday Mart gets shoppers in holiday spirit

JACKSON, Tenn. — Although thanksgiving a few days away, the city of Jackson is already in the holiday shopping spirit.

“It is a wonderful way to start off your holiday season and getting a lot of shopping done,” USJ Holiday Mart Chairman Nikki Watlington said.

With 125 vendors and three levels of shopping options, the University School of Jackson’s 46th annual Holiday Mart attracted more than one thousand shoppers this weekend.

“This year we brought along little sister so we could just have a girls day,” shopper Ashley Friend said. “Just spend time together and have fun and shop.”

“It’s great not only for USJ, but also for the community of Jackson,” USJ teacher Dana Simmons said. “It has a little something for everyone. From little kids to people who just want to come and shop.”

The USJ Holiday Mart is the school’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Organizers say it wouldn’t be possible without community support.

“We couldn’t do this without community support,” Watlington said. “And it’s not just the Jackson community, it is all over West Tennessee. Memphis, Mississippi Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri. We’ve had shoppers from all over.”

Sunday young shoppers got to take dance break with Disney characters for Sing A-long Sundaes.

“It’s amazing,” Simmons said. “It’s awesome watching my students, former students I guess you could say, perform. They have a great time.”

Although for some the Holiday Mart is a chance to purchase gifts on their checklist under one roof, one shoppers says it’s really about embracing the holiday season.

“It’s a time to finally get in the Christmas spirit,” Friend said. “And it’s a time that you start feeling joyous ans you start feeling excited about Christmas, and family and spending time together.”

Even though this years sales has come to an end, according to one the chairwomen, USJ has already started making plans for the 47th Holiday Mart in 2017.