Shoppers swarm civic center for USJ Holiday Mart
DOWNTOWN JACKSON — Shoppers swarmed the Carl Perkins Civic Center on Friday for the first full day of the 45th annual University School of Jackson Holiday Mart. “I’m buying some last-minute stuff to help decorate, Christmas presents, presents for me,” Tina Byford, a shopper, said. Customers have a lot of merchandise to choose from including clothes, food and home goods. “Anything that’s in right now is here,” Byford said. Dozens of vendors are all under the same roof. “It just makes it a lot easier to spend more money in one place.” Traci Smith traveled from Paris to sell for her shop, The Iron Place. They started coming six years ago. “We keep coming back because we’ve got great customers,” Smith said. “You‘ve got great food. You‘ve got great shopping, and every booth is fabulous.” Organizers said they have 109 vendors at the holiday mart this weekend that come from all over the southeast. “Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida,” USJ Holiday Mart co-chair Anne Short said. Proceeds from the event go to USJ. “Whether it’s for technology, books, advancement of a particular subject area,” Short said. The event runs through Sunday. Shoppers can purchase tickets for $7 at the door.
