For the last 39 years, Merry Marketplace has helped mark the start to the holiday season in the Permian Basin.
It’ll return this year with much of the same to offer as it has in years past.
This year’s Merry Marketplace will take place from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 at the Ector County Coliseum.
77 vendors will have booths set up at the multi-day event with merchants coming from all over Texas and seven other states.
Merry Marketplace first started in 1983 and is put on by the Junior League of Odessa.
This year’s theme is “Sparkle and Shine It’s Christmas Time.”
“We’re very excited,” Merry Marketplace Chairperson Brea Frazier said. “This is our 39th annual marketplace event. We’re bringing glitzy glam this year. It’ll be elegant and glittery. We think it’s going to be fantastic. We have a great group of merchants coming. We have a busy week scheduled. We’ll have our preview party on Thursday night. We’ll have lady luncheon on Friday and then our breakfast with Santa on Saturday and the general admission shopping throughout the entire weekend. We’re really excited about this event this year.”
The vendors have something for everyone from jewelry to clothing and toys.
While most of the vendors come back each year, Frazier says that this year there will be about 13-14 new merchants.
“We’re excited to bring in new ones, just fresh and new people and new items to purchase,” Frazier said. “We have people coming from seven different states. We have people coming in from Nevada, Washington, New Hampshire, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Ohio and all across Texas. We’re bringing some new merchants this year which I think will be exciting.”
Frazier talked about some of the vendors that come back each year.
“Honestly, some of the vendors are repeat vendors every year because they love this show and this market and they’re really dedicated,” Frazier said. “We love having them back. We’ll have a little bit of the traditional stuff. There’s always clothes and hand-made items. There’s a couple of food items this year that we’re excited about bringing. … We have clothes, shoes and a couple of gift items for men. We have these cool adjustable stools that are great for hunting. There will also be all kinds of décor and furniture.”
The event will begin with its Premier Shopping Preview Party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 3.
Ticket prices are $100 per-person.
The preview party includes an open bar.
“We’re going to do our preview party on Thursday again,” Frazier said. “We’re going to keep it cocktail attire. Hopefully, it’ll be sophisticated. We’ll have a jazz band that night. There’ll be free beer and wine.”
The Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Show will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 4.
“This year, we’re doing our style show with Kirby’s Closet and XO Bridals both here locally,” Frazier said. “We’re excited to showcase everything they have to offer.”
Breakfast with Santa will be from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 5 for $5 a ticket.
Merry Marketplace General Shopping hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 4, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 5 and noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 6.
General admission shopping is $10 per ticket.
The event has served as a transition from Halloween to Christmas season.
“It’s exciting because everyone wants to start decorating for Christmas earlier each year so the fact that we can do it and get away with it is great. I feel like it gets everyone in the Christmas spirit,” Frazier said. “Everyone starts purchasing gifts. It gets everyone in the mood.”
The event serves as a fundraiser for the Junior League of Odessa.
“Honestly, it means a lot to be able to put on this fundraiser every year so that we can continue to give back to the community. All the funds that we raise go back into the community through projects that we do. The fact that we’re able to give so much money back to the community feels really good.”
The event was not held in 2020 due to COVID but Frazier said it was exciting to see the return of Merry Marketplace last year.
“Taking a year off wasn’t the worst thing ever,” Frazier said. “It gave us a chance to regroup. It sort of incorporated us to some other things. It helped us to step back and look at what is the most important part of what we’re trying to obtain but we’re definitely glad to be able to bring it back. We enjoy doing it. The preparation for it takes the entire year but it’s worth it once we see how successful it is and how important it is to the entire community.”
If you go
- What: Merry Marketplace.
- Where: Ector County Coliseum.
- When: Nov. 3 to Nov. 6.
- Online: tinyurl.com/539nzyt7
