By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

A Christmas Market was held on Saturday, Nov. 21 in downtown Clanton.

The goal of the event was to showcase local vendors while giving people the chance to buy some unique gifts for the holiday season. Customers came in and talked to the vendors while browsing for locally made goods.

“My girls and I have always gone to Christmas Village and enjoyed it,” said Ann Glasscock, the event’s organizer and owner of MorLyn’s Fine Jewelry in Clanton.

She said she was inspired by the idea of an annual get together and decided to try something similar in Clanton.

About 15 vendors had set up booths in Elizabeth Hall on 2nd Avenue North. The cozy atmosphere accommodated friendly meetings between customers and vendors.

Some stores there could be considered competitors to each other, according to Glasscock, but everyone was supportive.

“What’s so fun is when you see them buying from each other,” said Glasscock. “I think they just appreciate the opportunity.”

Glasscock noted that many of the vendors operate out of their homes, and having a storefront for a day is a good experience for them.

She said that three times a year, the hall hosts vendors in a similar fashion, and the spaces always fill up quickly.

Glasscock organizes these events because, as a business owner, she believes there is something special about local businesses.

“We local businesses are the ones that have signs on the football field and ads in the school yearbooks, whereas these other big [chain stores], you don’t see them,” said Glasscock. “We use our money to put back into the community. That’s a huge difference to me.”