Shoppers browse a variety of local vendors during Santa’s Shoppe, the Junior League of Spartanburg’s annual holiday market. Now in its 38th year, the event draws approximately 4,000 attendees and raises funds to support community initiatives, including grants for local teachers. This year’s Santa’s Shoppe returns Nov. 13-15.
Want to Go?
Santa’s Shoppe will be held at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium (385 N. Church St., Spartanburg) at the following times:
November 13: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
November 14: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
November 15: 12–5 p.m.
Tickets: $5 pre-sale; $10 at the door.
This holiday season, Upstate shoppers who can’t get enough of the Christmas season will once again have a chance to come early and stay as late as their feet can handle during the 38th annual Santa's Shoppe.
Having begun in 1989 as an arm of Junior League Spartanburg, Santa’s Shoppe is not only the organization’s largest signature fundraiser, it ushers in the spirit of the holiday that benefits the community throughout the year.
“All money raised from JLS yearly events stay within Spartanburg to benefit our projects, and Santa’s Shoppe has proven to be our most successful,” said co-director Kate Brown. “We have 4,000 people attend during the weekend, and we are able to give away over $20,000 to individual teachers and teacher teams within the Spartanburg community.”
Early shoppers will have two advantages: pre-sale tickets are $5, whereas they will be $10 at the door; and each ticket purchase allows entry to all three shopping days of the holiday market to peruse items from more than 50 merchants such as HomeGoods, Palmetto Twist boutique, Dria’s Southern Cakes, MiCreate Designs, Cobblestone & Grits embroidery, Nicki's Sweet Shoppe, and Nectar of the Vine.
“We pride ourselves in focusing on local vendors to be represented at our event,” said fifth-year co-director Megan Michalowski. “Locally sourced and prepared food items are very popular, and decor that represents local interests are always a big hit.”
Items will include men’s and women’s clothing, hand-poured candles, jewelry, embroidered wreath sashes and linen napkins, whole cakes or slices, cocoa & crunch brittle, handmade cutting boards from Brown Bear Woodworking, pet supplies and homemade treats, slushy mixes, and all sorts of homemade soaps, lotions, bath bombs, and other personal care items from Smooth Acres Finest.
“Dria’s is returning for their second year, and are very excited to be back,” said Kaylyn Stevenson, administrative assistant with JLS. “And Palmetto Twist will print custom shirts for you on site.”
If you still want more, Brown pointed out that this year’s event also marks the return of a preview party, now called Santa’s Soiree, beginning at 6:30 p.m. November 12.
Attendees can buy a single ticket for $60, or a pair for $110, and be treated to food, open bar drinks, silent auction, and vendor items before Santa’s Shoppe officially starts.
“We will also have Cookies with Santa on Saturday, November 14. for little kids,” Brown said. “There are 6 seatings and you join Santa for an hour of pictures, crafts, cookie decorating, and more.”
Tickets for Santa Soirée , and Cookies with Santa must be purchased separately.
But whether you attend one part or all parts, this year’s is expected to launch the event into a new era.
For example, JLS currently has 257 members – which means a growing base of volunteers, and the chance to make all parts of Santa’s Shoppe into Spartanburg’s most-anticipated public occasion.
“Marketing has played a big part in how much we’ve grown this event,” Michalowski said. “We are now at the recovery point of COVID, and eventually hope to draw around 8,000 each year.”
Which wouldn’t be bad going, since the first Santa’s Shoppe was created just as an idea to help augment the presence and function of the Junior League.
When you further consider that the league’s roots are traced to 1940, started by local women for hands-on community service and social reform, JSL is not only part of a worldwide organization numbering more than 125,000 women, its local presence may just now be hitting its stride.
And if you’ve ever wanted see what it’s all about and get involved on any level, Santa’s Shoppe is a good way to start.
“Our event presents a lot of opportunity for our members and also local student organizations that we work with to volunteer during the weekend to make sure everything runs smoothly,” Brown said. “We couldn’t put on the event without our volunteers.”
