The Holiday Mountain Market existed before NAS (Nederland Area Seniors)g took over responsibility for it, likely sometime in the 1990s. When Serene Karplus was hired as Director of the Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce in December, 2002, her first day on the job was serving at their sales table at the market alongside Teresa Crush-Warren selling a bit of history about the Holiday Mountain Market Frozen Dead Guy Day T-shirts for the upcoming year. Three months later, the Big Snow collapsed the gym roof at the Nederland Community Center and the event moved for several years to the gym at the Nederland Middle/Senior High School.

Senior volunteers managed the event at that time. Betty Hunt organized the event for several years, until she left the area. Laura Fisher managed the musical performances for years. Dave Felkley served as Santa for many years, ho-ho-hoing through the crowds after he arrived on a fire engine, honored in his final year with an interview by radio station KGNU.

When volunteer energy to organize the large event waned, NAS Director Serene Karplus stepped up to ensure its continuance. The event returned to the Community Center and grew to consistently hosting over 60 artisan/ crafters and local nonprofit booths. The event filled the gym, multi-purpose room, dance studio, and hallways of the second floor. Jim Elder, then President of the Board at NAS, volunteered to manage the kitchen for years. Margaret May created the first NAS silent auction, consisting of a table outside their office which over the years grew to hundreds of popular items filling 300 square feet of space. This was thanks largely to the volunteer efforts of Jim Elder, Serene Karplus, and Jim Disinger. As well as the generous donor support of hundreds of businesses in the mountains and Boulder. The sound stage filled every hour of the market with joyous music, drawing top quality performers from throughout Boulder County who volunteered their time and talent.

The market succeeded thanks to the awesome vendors, the hardworking NAS staff, the kindness of the Town and Community Center staff, many volunteer hours from the seniors and other members of our community, and all of the patrons who attended the event.

The community showed up with open wallets to support the microbusinesses and nonprofits, ensuring about $40k exchanged hands on those exuberant social weekends, keeping their holiday shopping local.

The next Holiday Mountain Market will take place December 4 and 5. For information about being a vendor, performing music or other information, please email holidaymountainmarket@gmail.com or call Barbara at 303.881.0365