Tallahassee is a leading Florida destination and its warm temperatures and abundant sunshine beckon travelers during any season. Florida’s capital city invites visitors with beautiful scenery, historic architecture, community events, and attractions for the entire family.
The Tallahassee Museum Market Days has been a cornerstone of the city's holiday shopping scene for over five decades. The event is a two-day shopping extravaganza that will attract nearly 20,000 people from all over the region. Patrons will encounter more than 275 vendors selling a variety of items. From beautiful handcrafted furniture to one-of-a-kind artisan foods, attendees will find the perfect gift for everyone on their shopping list. The event is also a fully juried art and craft festival, so attendees can rest assured that they are purchasing high-quality items from established artists. We got the chance to interview Sarah Pierce, Marketing Specialist for the Tallahassee Museum, to talk about this holiday shopping experience.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
SP: The Tallahassee Museum invites shoppers to cross off holiday lists with unique, personalized goods while benefitting a great cause at the 51st annual Market Days shopping event, Dec. 3-4, 2016, at the North Florida Fairgrounds. Fifty-one years ago, a group of passionate volunteers held a small arts and crafts show on the Museum’s grounds to help support the Tallahassee Museum’s education and preservation activities.
RAL: How many annual participants do you draw?
SP: Almost 20,000 attendees! More than 275 carefully selected vendors will come from across the country to exhibit.
RAL: What makes this event unique?
SP: Market Days is a juried art and craft show. Only the best and most accomplished artists and craftsmen are admitted into the show after they have completed an extensive application review process. The review ensures that the items purchased at Market Days are some of the most creative, unique, and high-quality items available.
Many people may be unaware that this widely anticipated event is possible only through the support of many dedicated volunteers. Each year several hundred volunteers facilitate every aspect of the event, coordinated by the Market Days Committee. Committee volunteers will begin preparing for next year’s event as soon as the festival gates close on Sunday. The committee generates well over 10,000 volunteer hours per year; a few of the positions are nearly full-time. Committee members have combined for over 500 years of art and craft selection and event planning expertise.
RAL: Are there any lodging specials that are set up specifically for the event?
SP: Featured hotels include:
RAL: What does this event mean to the community?
SP: Just over five decades later, Market Days continues to help fund the Tallahassee Museum’s programs and exhibits. The volunteers who support Market Days make it possible for an impressive 70% of its proceeds to go directly to the Museum, allowing it to offer free and subsidized admission and fees to those who otherwise would not be able to participate. Over the last 51 years, Market Days has provided over $5 million to museum operations.
RAL: Does this drive business to your local economy?
SP: Market Days provides Leon County and Tallahassee a significant economic impact. With approximately 30% of Market Days attendees coming from outside of Leon County, the event generates significant revenues for hotels, restaurants, attractions, and retail outlets.
It's estimated that Market Days has an economic impact of several million dollars for our community!
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
SP: Market Days is the most treasured shopping tradition in this region. Mothers and daughters, longtime friends, and husbands and wives alike cherish moments spent searching for that perfect gift for their loved one. Add Market Days to your list of holiday traditions.
For more information about the Tallahassee Market Days, please visit their website.