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Pop-up Holiday Market offers unique locally made Christmas treats

“I think everybody has been impacted so much by COVID this year,” Leonzio said. “The non-profits need help just as much as anyone right now— They’re a very valuable part of the community and this event, in general, is about promoting community and bringing people together.”
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Joal Kamps of Flint and Feather shows of his wares to guests at the Cochrane Pop-Up Holiday Market on Sunday (Nov. 8). (Chelsea Kemp/The Cochrane Eagle)

COCHRANE— A local entrepreneur has launched the Pop-Up Holiday Market featuring Cochrane and area vendors just in time for the Christmas season.

Event organizer Kailey Leonzio said she hopes the Pop-Up Holiday Market can bring the community together while helping people find the perfect Christmas gifts. She added this is her first time hosting a pop-up market.

“It’s been pretty awesome so far to see the support of people coming out and sharing stuff on social media,” Leonzio said. “The vendors were really happy— I know it's just going to get better.”

She was inspired to launch the event by Cochrane Tourism and brought the Holiday Market to life after seeing many annual markets in the Cochrane area cancelled due to COVID-19 public health measures.

Christmas is typically the busiest time of year for local artisans and bakers, she said, and it was disappointing to see markets and annual events cancelled due to the virus.

Embracing innovation Leonzio has leased an event space at 609 1st Street West for seven weeks to host up to 18 different vendors each weekend at the holiday market.

The number of guests allowed at the market will be limited to 50 people at a time, and they are encouraging those who visit to wear masks.

Another adaptation to the virus is the market takes place Friday-Sunday each week. They saw a steady flow of people on the first weekend, she said, and they are spreading out attendance and ensuring vendors receive the maximum exposure to visitors shopping for holiday presents.

Leonzio added 50 swag bags are up for grabs each weekend for the first 50 visitors. The bags feature items from vendors at the market and will be different each weekend.

“Typically when you come you’ll see somebody new every week,” Leonzio said. 

For those looking for the ideal holiday gift, The Pop-up Holiday Market is the perfect spot, she said, because it features everything from woodworking, to baking, to jewelry, to Christmas decor and everything in between.

“It’s quite a variety and I didn’t actually accept vendors who sell the same thing or similar things on the same weekend,” Leonzio said. “I wanted to ensure that when a vendor signs up they’re getting the maximum exposure and sale for that whole weekend.”

Leonzio said she hopes that those who visit will be able to get all of their Christmas shopping done at the pop-up market.

“Because there’s different vendors every weekend, there’s different items for every person on your list,” Leonzio said. “It’s important to recognize that every week has something different, so, it's pretty easy to do all your shopping there instead of going onto Amazon or going to Walmart— You can support local and find something unique.”

In December the Holiday Markey will include a special section just for children, where they will be able to shop for adults in their lives and have help wrapping the presents they choose to place under their Christmas tree. Items featured in the children's area are new or have been gently used and will be available for purchase up to $20.

All funds raised from the children's area will go to the Cochrane and Area Humane Society and the Cochrane and Area Boys and Girls Club.

“Lots of people get things as a gift that they never use,” Leonzio said with a laugh. “I’m hoping the community will jump on board so we can give back to the less fortunate and the non-profit in our community that need support as well.”

The Holiday Market has also set up a donation box in November for the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank and Share Your Christmas program. They will be collecting food, new children's clothes and toys for the remainder of the month.

“I think everybody has been impacted so much by COVID this year,” Leonzio said. “The non-profits need help just as much as anyone right now— They’re a very valuable part of the community and this event, in general, is about promoting community and bringing people together.”

The Pop-up Holiday Market is free to attend and guests do not need to book ahead. The Market runs Fridays 6 to 9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each week the list of vendors will be updated on the Quirk Social Facebook page.

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