Annual Christmas Market returns to campus this weekend

On Friday night, The Master’s University admissions team sparked the holiday spirit on campus as they hosted their third annual Christmas Market. The event was held on The MacArthur Center Patio. It was host to a group of small businesses that displayed products and merchandise for eventgoers to purchase.

Once the sun had set, eventgoers made their way to the patio, decorated with bright lights, lush wreaths and flickering lanterns. Attendees were welcomed by a Christmas arch that ushered them into the market, as well as carolers, who provided the musical entertainment for the evening. Once inside, eventgoers were offered complimentary hot chocolate provided by Trophy Coffee. Tasked with the distribution of the beverages, Trophy Coffee employee Madi Hickman commented on the event, saying, “It’s really well coordinated and set up, and it has been super fun to see students and community members coming together in this way.” Students and guests walked around the market purchasing items and taking in the sights.

The market itself was host to over 10 different small-business vendors. These included “Three Sixteen Publishing,” which offered journals and Bibles, and “Jaden Ortiz Studio,” which sold personalized Christmas cards. A few vendors offered jewelry; these included “Salt and Strand,” “Middle Child Studio,” and “Wire and Strand,” each with a unique twist to their products.

A couple of vendors presented miscellaneous products, such as a returning vendor, “All Good Things Candles,” which provided hand-poured candles with seasonal scents. Another company, “Zoe Clothing Company,” brought T-shirts with Christian designs. “Cookies on a Mission” and “Edelweiss Pastries” provided the desserts for the evening with their handmade delicacies that featured Christmas-themed designs.

Finally, two vendors came straight from the TMU campus. These included a GO! Teams Outreach table and an Agriculture Club booth, which offered mini-Christmas trees for eventgoers to purchase.

The market was enjoyed by the eventgoers, with one student, Annalise Houghton, stating, “I thought the event was a great way to get everyone into the festive spirit and a great way to refresh and socialize while studying for finals.” To add to this, the Christmas Market combined with the TMU Come Christmas Sing! Concert to create a festive evening that allowed people to listen to music and shop from small businesses all in one night. The market will return tonight from 6 - 9 p.m. on The MacArthur Center Patio.