Holiday Market Recap, Season Closure

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We have reached the end of a long and busy season, with many new faces, new places and opportunities explored. It’s been a great season, but all good things must come to an end. After the conclusion of Erlanger tomorrow, we will be closed until mid-January 2026. Ho ho ho!

A quick recap on Knoxville Holiday Market:

  • total reported vendor sales: $410,586
  • average sales/vendor: $772/day

The per-day breakdown:

  • Saturday 12/6: $130,443 (avg: $925)
  • Sunday 12/7: $78,169 (avg: $547)
  • Saturday 12/13: $131,260 (avg: $924)
  • Sunday 12/14: $70,713 (avg: $498)

My personal goal for the series was $100k/day, so we hit those targets fairly well. By comparison, average vendor sales at the 2024 Chattanooga Holiday Market were $876/837 the first weekend, and $957/991 the second weekend. Knoxville Saturdays were right there (even a tad better the first weekend), but Sundays were not quite as strong as Chattanooga in the past.

We are grateful for the Knoxville support, and to all of our new friends and market vendors met during this new adventure. It certainly was a good event for most, and we all learned a bit along the way. We are looking forward to more new shared experiences in 2026!

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Many of our Knoxville friends are anxious to know if we will be returning to KCC, and many of our Chattanooga friends are equally interested to know if we will be returning to the Chattanooga Convention Center in 2026. From my perspective, our goal is to build stable, recurring markets which grow into annual traditions. We’ve started conversations with both Chattanooga and Knoxville about 2026, and I will share that Chattanooga Convention Center has a single weekend available for us to host our normal holiday footprint in 2026, and Knoxville has at least two (possibly three) weekends available in a slightly larger, newer space.

Nothing is ever simple, but things generally work out in the end. We’re going to sleep on things for a long winter’s nap, and these topics will be waiting for us when we return. Our offices will be closed until mid January; email if you need something, but it will not be viewed or responded to until we return. Phones will be put on vacation hold, too.

Enjoy the Christmas cookies and eggnog – Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

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Merry Christmas Chris and all the gang!

We appreciate and love you guys as you know, you deserve a good break and I hope you enjoy it. We support the market wherever it goes we support you wherever you go and we appreciate you as we have stated before

Thank you for all your work and thanks to all the vendors for continuing to support the Chattanooga market.

We look forward to hearing all about what you decide next year. We look forward to making our plans around it.

Happy New Year and enjoy a long winter rest.

Phil and Martha

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Thanks for all you guys do Chris. We could have been without any show at all in December and for that reason I am grateful seeing as how I do this for a living. You guys went through alot and deserve praise for it. With that being said, Im curious…. you wrote that they have one weekend available at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Does that mean one weekend ONLY or just one weekend where we would not have to break down? Id be curious to know if there is availability for 2 or 3 weekends there if perhaps we break down between them and if any other vendors would even be interested in doing that as much of a hassle as it is.

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a single weekend, two event days only.

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Well, for what its worth Id be willing to do the single! I assume it would be the acme of foolishness to say heck let’s do the first weekend in ‘Nooga and then the 2 in Knoxville. Probably a logistical nightmare. Im gonna be with you guys regardless.

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Merry Christmas and thank you for all your hardwork!

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Well, the first weekend in CHA isn’t the weekend available. Nothing is particularly simple. Merry Christmas!

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We learned some lessons for the Knoxville market, for sure. That said, we have multiple tents and helpers and we are going to be wherever you schedule whenever you schedule it.

We appreciate you!! :goat: :glass_of_milk: :cow_face: :soap: :green_heart:

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glancing at 2026 calendar, both November and December are “short” months - so there is little room for multiples.. but whatever you decide

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Well said Phil! Happy holidays to you and everyone who reads this!

Best, Danielle

Aka H16

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I’m so glad all went well in Knoxville. I didn’t have a place to stay this time, so I decided to not go. Maybe next year.

When will we be able to apply for 2026 Season Passes?

Thank you,

Susan Parry

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Sorry if this is a repeat. I’ve been having major computer issues.

When can we apply for 2026 Season Passes?

Thank you and Happy Holidays