BETHEL, NY — Like many great ideas that have their roots in giving back, the Holiday Market at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Road, has a similar story.
“The Holiday Market captures the spirit of the season while highlighting Bethel Woods’ dedication to supporting local artists,” according to Susan Russ, senior director of marketing and communications at Bethel Woods. In addition, Russ says, “it’s our mission to offer extraordinary experiences that bring our community together through the arts and music.”
It began 16 years ago in 2009 during a rough patch for many businesses, especially small local ones. The concept was to provide a winter venue for small-business owners based on their particular crafts. Utilizing space in the Event Gallery and Market Sheds, the vendors would be shielded from the cold while having exposure to the Bethel Woods audience in a perfect destination to celebrate the holiday season.
There are a number of small business owners I was fortunate to speak with who will be there this season.
Debbie Moore, who is the artist and owner of Personalization Gallery, said this is her fourth year selling items to a lot of repeat customers. She noted that a lot of attendees have weekend homes in the area and come from New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Personalization Gallery is set up like a gift shop with Christmas ornaments and slate coasters with personalized names engraved on it, and Moore is actually anticipating a bigger selection this year.
She is impressed by the way Bethel Woods decorates the show which is the start of the Christmas holidays.
Reach out at Personalizationgallery.com.
Next up is Serenity & Co., which provides handcrafted jewelry, knits, lotions and soaps. Caroline McGrath and Diana Vega craft all these items, which make for both perfect and unique gifts. This will be their second year, and McGrath reflected on the joyous and festive atmosphere that is created at the Holiday Market. She sees her job as helping people curate gifts.
Her bestsellers have been handcrafted mittens and cowls, which is not surprising given the weather. Also very popular are the high-quality candles, made with natural essential oils, and goats’ milk soap as a great moisturizer. McGrath is English born, and is reminded of the festive songs and carol singing at this time of year, especially as one drives into the winter wonderland of Bethel Woods.
Serenity & Co. is also a store; it is located in Honesdale, PA. Learn more at thisisserenity.com.
For Scott Porosky of Rose Hill Woodwork, this is his fifth consecutive year at the market, although he goes back to 2009. He started working with curly maple at age 17, apprenticing under his grandfather.
Porosky loves sharing wonderful things. His creations are one of a kind, so people can enjoy the spirit of each piece. From charcuterie cutting boards, which are his unique design, to his wooden egg spatulas for making eggs—or as he says, making “eggcellent” eggs—and his lazy susan centerpiece that swirls.
He sees the Holiday Market as three days of happiness, during which he can see his favorite vendors. In terms of marketing the event, Porosky says Bethel Woods does a great job, really hitting the sweet spot. In addition, he added, that it is on “hallowed ground,” the Woodstock festival. Reach Porosky at rosehillwoodwork@gmail.com.
The unique name Forged by Hand is a perfect description of Carolyn and Bill Perry’s company. She does the woodworking, creating laser animals as well as ornaments, while he’s the tie-dye clothing and blankets person. They love Bethel Woods, and hope their fourth year is as busy as the others.
The Perrys find many of the people who attend bring their whole family. According to Carolyn, ornaments tend to sell the best, with their birch tree and cardinal bird that pay homage to loved ones being a best seller. They love the decorations around the grounds.
Learn more at forgedbyhand.com.
Then there are the Wearable Words crafts by Montgomery Book Exchange, the brainchild of Claire and Walter Pahucki. Now in their fifth year at the market, the Pahuckis not only look forward to selling their jewelry—which is made out of sayings in books—but to doing their own holiday shopping and supporting other craftspeople. In addition, Walter Pahucki added that they do a mix of things, including clocks and Christmas ornaments. And because they own a bookstore, they have a wealth of info to work with, including sayings from an atlas from the 1800s.
The work they create is both original and inspiring.
Contact them at Montgomerybookexchange.com.
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