Christmas cheer is here

A visitor looks through a handful of tree ornaments at the craft show last year.

November is the time of the year when people start getting into the holiday spirit. So it’s no surprise that this Friday and Saturday the local Homemakers, that are part of University of Florida IFAS, are hosting the 31st annual Homemakers Holiday Craft Show. The show features items that aim to get people in the holiday spirit like handmade stockings, decorated Christmas trees and every kind of Christmas tree decoration imaginable. The craft show also features crafts made by local artisans, homemade soup and sandwiches and desserts, and lots of door prizes. According to Beverly Norton, who is a member of the Homemakers, this event was created decades ago to help get people in the holiday spirit. “It’s just something that we started a long time ago, and we wanted to have it the same time every year that way every year people would remember it,” Norton said. Like in years past, the craft show will be held at the Santa Rosa County Auditorium and will include a number of local craftsmen and women. “We have handmade jewelry…there are several ladies that are selling jewelry. We have things crafted from wood, needlepoint, baby blankets and items of that sort,” Norton said. “We have a big variety of things.” The shindig would not be complete without the Christmas décor, and Norton’s favorite—Christmas music. “We play our Christmas music,” Norton laughed. “It’s a little early, but we love to play it.” Norton said the event would also feature local soups and sandwiches as well as Christmas ornaments. “You can’t forget the Christmas ornaments,” Norton said. “A lot of the ladies (Homemakers) made them for the event.”

Norton said there are 50 booths at the event and some vendors utilize two booths, so she didn’t have an exact vendor count. Norton said that money raised from the event would be presented to charities some time in December.

Want to go? What: Homemakers Holiday Craft Show When: Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Santa Rosa County Auditorium 4530 Spikes Way in Milton

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Christmas cheer is here