Special Christmas Holiday Market set for Dec. 23

(Dec. 4, 2020) The Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market has been in full elf mode for several weeks now, as its merchants have been working to turn the community marketplace at White Horse Park into a local hub for shopping during the holiday season. 

The Ocean Pines market is modeled after the centuries-old markets found throughout Europe. 

Held in a public space showcasing agriculture and food-producing vendors, along with artisans and crafts people, these markets gathered communities together in the town square to provide a place to shop, acquire needed services, and socialize.   

Normally held each Saturday, Market Manager David Bean said a quirk of the calendar this year would force one schedule change: because Christmas Day falls on a Friday, the Dec. 26 farmers market had to be moved.  

“Friday is the day that most of our merchants use to prepare for the following Saturday morning market." Bean said. "We could never ask our vendors to prepare for the Saturday market on Christmas day this year.” 

Bean said it's a rarity that the Ocean Pines Marketplace has not been open on a Saturday morning. But this Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, the marketplace will be empty and silent. 

“Without a market day on Dec. 26, that will leave the Ocean Pines community without its source for fresh foods, artisan products and services for over a week,” Bean said. "We knew that wouldn't settle well with the thousand-plus shoppers that rely on the market weekly during the offseason.” 

Instead, Bean said the farmers market would take inspiration from successful holiday events held earlier this year for Easter and Thanksgiving, and offer the community a special Christmas Holiday Market on Wednesday, Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon.  

Bean said it didn’t take long for marketplace vendors to adopt the idea, with all the available slots filled within a few hours by artisan merchants, and producers of fresh, local fruits and vegetables, gourmet foods, seafood, meats, and baked goods. 

He said there would be a special emphasis on baked goods.  

“No time to bake dozens of cookies or make the perfect pies? The options available from the market's bakers will be astonishing,” he said. “All of the market's bakeries are now taking special orders for holiday sweets and confections, to be picked up at the Dec. 23 special market day.” 

John Chandler, who manages the artisan section of the market, said the first-ever Christmas Holiday Market would also be filled with artisan merchants. 

"Having trouble with your holiday shopping list? I have four words for you: shop our Artisan Market,” Chandler said. “Shoppers will find last-minute gift ideas, the perfect hostess gift, or just something special for the shopper themselves.”   

Among the items offered will be pottery, leather goods, paintings, and fashions, Chandler said.  

"It's always incredible to see how much love and labor our merchants put into their market shops, especially during the winter holidays,” he added.  

Bean said if all goes well and the day is embraced by the community, plans are that the new Christmas Market could be held each year, on Dec. 23, the day before Christmas Eve."  

The Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market will return to its marketplace at White Horse Park on Saturday, Jan. 2. Market winter hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through March 2021. 

For more information, visit www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/farmers-artisans-market.