Shopper’s Fair Marks 25 Years This Weekend

OCEAN CITY – The whole family will enjoy a visit to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City Friday through Sunday, Nov. 23-25, for the 25th Annual Holiday Shopper’s Fair.

A visit to this annual shopping extravaganza is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. This year’s fair features unique gifts for everyone on your shopping list, including arts and craft items, handmade quilts, leather handbags, candles, a wide selection of jewelry, florals and specialty gift items. Vendors will sell honey roasted almonds and pecans, dip mixes and homemade chocolates and fudge. You will also find toys, pet items and sports memorabilia. Add nautical items, stained glass, country woodcrafts, lighted baskets and ceramics among many more items and your gift search will be completed.

Local non-profit organizations will be on hand including Delmarva Cat Connection with cat/kitten adoptions and art and craft items, along with Town Cats Inc., the Ocean City Aviation Association selling t-shirts and caps, and Believe in Tomorrow and the Ellendale VFC Ladies Auxiliary with raffles. The Better Business Bureau will offer consumer information and education.

Special programs have been organized for children’s entertainment to celebrate the season. This year’s Holiday Shopper’s Fair will offer more hands-on crafts for the kids to enjoy. Craft activities are included in the price of admission. Back by popular demand is Ms. Kim with face painting, balloonatics, arts and crafts and some new games. Also returning is the ever-popular Myklar the Magician who will perform two shows each day.

Santa will be making a daily appearance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so be sure to stop by and leave your Christmas wish list and have your child’s photo taken, which is always a great holiday gift for the grandparents.

Door prize drawings will be held every hour on the half hour (must be present to win). And for the non-shoppers in the family, a television room will be open to watch the football games.

The Holiday Shopper’s Fair was started in 1983 as part of the effort to bring visitors to the resort in the shoulder season. The first show attracted 2,000 people with 66 vendors displaying gifts, arts and crafts and more. This year’s show will feature more than 200 vendors with an estimated attendance of 14,000 visiting the three-day tradition.

Show hours for the fair are: Friday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to 5p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3 for the weekend. Children 13 and under are admitted free.