Christmas Village awaits shoppers this weekend

250 vendors will offer array of goods
The Tennessean

While the rest of the city is gearing up for the Thanksgiving holiday, it'll already be Christmas at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.
Organizers expect more than 20,000 people from Tennessee and surrounding states to descend upon the fairgrounds for Christmas Village, the Nashville Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club's annual fundraiser benefiting the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center and the Arrowmont School for Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg.
Shoppers will survey the goods of more than 250 vendors, looking through handmade arts and crafts, jewelry, holiday decorations, antiques and home decor of all types and prices in search of that perfect gift.
"For many families, coming to Christmas Village is a tradition that's being passed down," said Mila Grigg, 2008 Christmas Village publicity chair. "We're seeing more and more of children's children.
"I think the amount of merchandise and the variety brings people back. It's not just a Christmas show — it's a great trade show."
The show began as a one-day event in 1961, bringing in $1,020. Over the next 47 years, the annual fundraiser grew and expanded, donating more than $6.3 million to date.
Berenice Denton co-founded Christmas Village with the late Barbara White Fridrich and has been a vendor at the event for the last 30 years.
"Many of the vendors at Christmas Village aren't in the area," said Denton, who sells candy as well as gifts and antiques each year. "It's the only time you can have all these vendors under one roof, and get things you can't get anywhere else."
Grigg expects a strong turnout this year, which she hopes will generate even more revenue to donate to their philanthropies.
"We've heard people say that now that the election's over, they're just ready to have some fun," Grigg said. "Tickets for our Sneak-A-Peek night are almost sold out (as of Nov. 10). I think people are looking forward to getting out and having a fun day with their family."