13 years of local treasures & holiday cheer at the Scranton Buy Local Holiday Marketplace

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — The lights were dimmed, and the warm glow from each vendor table drew in shoppers for the 13th Annual Buy Local Holiday Marketplace at the Scranton Cultural Center.

Spanning five floors at the Masonic Temple and showcasing more than 95 local vendors, the event offered everything from handcrafted gifts and gourmet treats to artwork and much more.

Rachael Fronduti, Marketing Manager at the Scranton Cultural Center and Manager of the Holiday Marketplace, said visitors had an abundance of options to explore this year.

“Our shows are juried, so we do strive to make sure there’s a good variety that even if there are multiple vendors that are offering jewelry or crochet or things like that, that they’re all offering something different so that there’s a lot of unique opportunities for shoppers,” said Fronduti.

“And I really do feel confident in saying that there is something here for everyone. We really try to make sure every area is covered, whether you’re looking for gifts for family or friends, or if you just want to treat yourself, there’s something here,” said Fronduti.

With the weather outside turning frightful, many shoppers are looking for ways to stay warm this season. Carina Havenstrite of Alpacas of Windy Haven Farm explained that they shear their herd of alpacas to create cozy, high-quality products for customers.

“We are a small working alpaca farm in Covington Township. So, we have 29 alpacas. Then we share them once a year. And we have all of these beautiful products that are all 100% U.S.-made and sourced,” said Havenstrite.

“So, we have pretty much anything you would need to stay warm and cozy for the winter. So, we have socks, hats, gloves, ponchos, mittens, headbands, a little bit of everything,” said Havenstrite.

Like Havenstrite, many vendors at the marketplace served as a reminder of the importance of supporting small local businesses.

“Supporting local and supporting small is always important because you’re also supporting families and you’re supporting your community. And that’s just something that you don’t get from big stores. So, we really do appreciate the small business support today,” said Havenstrite.

Along with the vendors, the first 1,000 shoppers also received a free reusable shopping bag from the event’s sponsor, Peoples Security Bank & Trust.