USJ holds annual Holiday Mart
DOWNTOWN JACKSON, Tenn. — As we get closer to the holiday season, one of the first indicators is the return of a local holiday shopping staple.
The USJ Holiday Mart is a much anticipated annual event where you can get in on the ultimate shopping extravaganza, and it’s all under one roof.
Every year the University School of Jackson hosts their holiday mart at the Carl Perkins civic center to raise funds for their school. It’s strategically timed before Thanksgiving and Christmas to capitalize on holiday shopping. This year’s event includes 106 vendors in one place. These vendors come from not only west Tennessee but also Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
“It’s the southeast, but we have a large selection of our vendors from right here in Jackson. A lot of stores that you might visit their storefronts will actually have set up a booth here,” explained Megan Moore, co chair for the holiday mart.
Thursday night the holiday mart hosted a preview party to kickoff the event for USJ alumni, families of students, staff, and sponsors. While Thursday night was only for that select group of people, Friday night is reserved exclusively for the ladies.
“Tomorrow night is our sip and shop event and it’s ladies only. It’s a big fun night; you leave the kids at home, leave the husbands home, and we come out and we shop, more food that night, and it’s actually sold out,” Moore shared.
Even though Friday night is sold out don’t worry, there’s still an opportunity to shop. Friday, from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening and Saturday and Sunday are general admission.
“9 to 5 on Saturday and then 12 to 4 on Sunday and on Saturday and Sunday we’ll have a special visitor upstairs. Santa’s coming to visit,” Moore said.
And for the men that are worried there’s nothing in this for you, they’ve got you covered as well. This year, they’re bringing back the bruins den sports bar for guests to watch football games and take a break from shopping.
“It is amazing. The men can go down there and hang out, watch a little bit of football, having a drink at the bar and women can go shop and socialize, while the men do that,” Moore explained.
General admission tickets are 10-dollars. The children’s activity is 10-dollars per child. Kids 12 and under get in for free.
