Kris Kringle market fills in for South Bend pop up shops

The first Kris Kringle Market is opening in South Bend as a replacement for the holiday pop up shop program.

Lindsay Vest, who organized it and manages the Indiana Rug Co.,  says that when local artists did not hear plans for pop up shops in downtown South Bend this year, they needed an alternative.

“Those vendors who were looking for a place to showcase their art, what better place to do it than in the State Theater? So we created a different feel for it, it's much more like a European outdoor market and really trying to bring back the kind of artsy vibe to this block that has been here but sort of dissipated a little bit. We want to bring it back and kind of re-energize it,” says Vest.

Coordinators from the State Theater and the Indiana Rug Co. selected 25 local artists to join the first ever Kris Kringle Market.

A wide variety of vendors were selected and the market will include products like jewelry, furniture, and scarves.

One of the vendors includes 16 year old Kylie Steel. Steel has been refurbishing furniture for a year and at young age she can already explain why she believes it is important to support local artists.

“Well I started off watching HGTV and I loved watching them refurbish and I thought I could do it myself. It's nice to support people who are making their products locally and supporting the community,” says Steel.   

The Kris Kringle Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday November 29 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 30.

In addition to the shopping there will be a cafe area catered by Chicory Café.
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