The Junior League of Waco brought holiday magic to the Extraco Events Center with its 19th annual Deck the Halls Holiday Gift Market. Held Oct. 23–26, the four-day event transformed the venue into a festive winter wonderland, drawing crowds from across Central Texas for shopping, celebration and community impact.

“This year, we’re taking it a step further with special effects, adding even more excitement to the event,” Edara said. “We’re also thrilled to bring snow to Christmas on Fifth this year, adding an extra layer of holiday magic.”

The space, formerly an axe house, is a complete manifestation of Corkill’s vision. From the beginning, Corkill knew he wanted a place he could call home to multiple types of art, from theater to music to ASL; he has now accomplished that in less than two months.

“[Painting] allows us to tell stories, to invite others in to have dialogue and to also talk to others that are in different timelines,” Bly said. “When I go to a museum, I feel like there’s a conversation with someone who I’ve never met, that I’ll never meet because they’re from a distant time and passed on.”