A sign welcoming people to the market can be seen here during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska, on Nov. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A sign welcoming people to the market can be seen here during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska, on Nov. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A little bit of Christmas

Shoppers got to browse the wares of over a dozen local artists and craftspeople during the inaugural Merry Little Christmas Market

On Friday and Saturday at the Peninsula Center Mall, shoppers got to browse the wares of over a dozen local artists and craftspeople during the inaugural Merry Little Christmas Market hosted by Holly Design Co.

Tiffany Holly, owner of the design company, said she wanted to give the community a way to support local businesses when so many public events have been canceled due to the ongoing pandemic. Holly said that about 200 people shopped on Friday and about 50 more had already come to the mall by noon on Saturday.

“Everyone has just thanked us for bringing joy to the town,” Holly said on Saturday.

There was also a gift giveaway facilitated by Holly, where people could visit each of the booths and have each business owner sign a card that was given out at the mall’s entrance. Once the cards were filled out by each business owner, shoppers dropped them off with Holly and were entered to win a series of gift cards and prizes from the participating businesses.

Remmy Rutledge, center, and her mom Breanna Rutledge, right, of Sterling, check out Remmy’s new ornament purchased from Kenai Kombucha owner Devon Gonzales, left, during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska, on Nov. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Remmy Rutledge, center, and her mom Breanna Rutledge, right, of Sterling, check out Remmy’s new ornament purchased from Kenai Kombucha owner Devon Gonzales, left, during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska, on Nov. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Laura Black, owner of Fireweed Bakery, sells some of her wares during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska on Nov. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Remmy Rutledge, center, and her mom Breanna Rutledge, right, of Sterling, check out Remmy’s new ornament purchased from Kenai Kombucha owner Devon Gonzales, left, during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska, on Nov. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Mike Morgan, left, serenades Joshua and Violet Veldstra, right, with a rendition of “Baby Beluga” during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska, on Nov. 7, 2020 (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Mike Morgan, left, serenades Joshua and Violet Veldstra, right, with a rendition of “Baby Beluga” during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska, on Nov. 7, 2020 (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Dharmic Spruce owner Branden Elde, left, of Homer, shows off her wares to Amy Frapp, right, of Soldotna, during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska on Nov. 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Mike Morgan, left, serenades Joshua and Violet Veldstra, right, with a rendition of “Baby Beluga” during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska, on Nov. 7, 2020 (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

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