The Nederland Area Seniors (NAS) are once again organizing an in-person Holiday Mountain Market at the Nederland Community Center. This is the first time the market has been open in person in two years, with last year’s Mountain Market being held online.

This year is essentially a rebuilding and revisioning of the event, with appropriate COVID-19 regulations and a restructuring of the overall event. In August, our own Barbara Hardt applied for a part-time position to help the Seniors organize events, then the position was withdrawn. A month later, when the executive director of NAS could not fill the organization role for the festival. Hardt presented a marketing plan that allowed her to draw on resources from The Mountain Ear for organization and promotion.

This year’s Holiday Mountain Market will host over 30 vendors, including the Nederland Community Library, Frozen Dead Guy Days, Tungsten Toffee, Epick Seafoods, and many more. There will also be several nonprofit booths, a slew of live music, and a silent auction.

In addition, the market will host food from Grateful Grazing, wine from Augustina’s Winery, spirits from Gold Dirt Distillery, and drinks from Kundali Kombucha.

As well as hosting many returning vendors, the Mountain Market also has a few new vendors. As a result of COVID-19, the silent auction is smaller this year as other businesses work to get back on their feet. Along with that, organizers have been unable to access files from previous year’s, so this year is essentially rebuilding the market from scratch.

The market also has to accommodate for the spread of COVID-19. As a result, masks will be required for everyone, including vendors, unless they are eating, drinking, or playing music in the multi-purpose room. Unfortunately, due to space and mask restrictions, Santa will not be at the festival this year.

Hardt plans to have a folder of information gathered from this years market to hand over to the next organizer. She believes that the process should take about six months to cement into place and notes they had to organize it in three. She also wants the layout to change in future markets and for the market to potentially bring in more people by hosting on Friday nights as well.

That being said, Hardt is incredibly excited to see everyone come to the Holiday Mountain Market and support local vendors who have worked so hard to help make this event come to life.

In addition, a holiday pick will be hosted in the multi-purpose room from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, taking the 2021 market out in style with a bit of holiday cheer for all.

The Holiday Mountain Market will be hosted in the Nederland Community Center, 750 Highway 72 in Nederland. The event runs on Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Check out the Holiday Mountain Market Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NederlandHolidayMountainMarket.