By Madison Miller
Reporter
The holiday season is starting with a bang as the Junior League of Waco’s ninth annual Deck The Halls event kicks off tonight.
Lanissa Willis, a board chairman for the event, has been planning this event for a year along with a co-chair.
“The proceeds that we get from it funds our community projects,” Willis said.
The Junior League of Waco is a nonprofit organization of women with more than 600 members. The group supports education and charitable projects in the Waco communities.
This year the Junior League of Waco is budgeted to invest $90,000 into the community, including $20,000 in grants.
There are 91 vendors at this year’s general market. Admission is half-priced for college students with a valid school ID on Saturday.
The merchants at this event carry items ranging from clothing to holiday decor.
“It gets bigger and better every year,” Willis said. “It is becoming a well oiled machine.”
Ty Yarbrough with Herbert Amos Clothier is one of the new merchants this year. They sell clothing brands such as Vineyard Vines and Southern Marsh.
“We do a lot of shows,” Yarbrough said. “We are new to Waco so we figured it would be good publicity for us.”
Herbert Amos Clothier is a new store on 16th Street and Speight Avenue.
There will be food for purchase during the event as well.
“I would not call it a Canton-Trade-Days-type thing,” Willis said. “It is definitely more like shops with merchandise rather than crafts.”
Willis is expecting 8,000-8,500 shoppers this weekend.
“I think people can expect to see holiday shopping, Christmas music, entertainment, Santa,” Willis said.
