Holiday Market has record crowd

This year's Holiday Market at the Left Hand Grange had a record 1,003 people attending, marking a huge jump from the previous record of 635 people in one day, according to Deborah Fowler, one of the event organizers. This year, the Niwot Nickel, a specially made wooden coin worth $5 off one item in December at participating merchants, highlighted the event. Those visiting the Grange also received a tote bag with the Niwot Business Association logo on it.

The Festive Food Hall at the Grange included a stand by La Musette, the food truck next to The Wheel House, which offered freshly roasted delights of various sorts, including roasted chestnuts, ham, twice baked potatoes and warm drinks. Food, treats and drinks were all in abundance from many local vendors.

Many local businesses participated in the Holiday Market, including Belle Terre Floral, Meadow Lake Honey, Sante Day Spa, The Bean Tree, Sweet Maple, Fantasia Mosaics, Meadow Lake Lavender, and Gardenia Designs.

"We get to see all our friends at this time of year, all in the same place, shopping for the holidays," said Sarah Cioni from Belle Terre Floral, who has had a stand at the Holiday Market for six years. "It's a great way to start the season."

There were also quite a few vendors from out of town, such as Geometry and The Boulder Gnome Factory. "I've had a booth here for several years," said Pam from the Boulder Gnome Factory. "I love downtown Niwot and the whole holiday event."

Two charities also set up booths at the Holiday Market this year: Cake4Kids and Charities Within Reach. Cake4Kids raises money to make birthday cakes for underprivileged children, foster children, homeless children, and those likely to have never had a birthday cake. Local baker Joan's Petite Sweets donated her time and ingredients to make the gingerbread houses.

Charities Within Reach sold clothing, jewelry, cards, and pottery to help raise money to support children's education in Thailand, helping homeless, abandoned and impoverished children get a basic education through high school or technical school. The charity even helps students to attend college.

"It's a great event, a lot of people attend," said Dawn Server from Meadow Lake Honey, who said she has had a booth at the Holiday Market for six or seven years. "And since we're a local business we like to sell local as well."

The Niwot Business Association sponsored free horse-drawn carriage rides that made the loop from Second Avenue, down Niwot Road, to the Cottonwood Square shopping center, and back up to The Wheel House. The rides were provided by Mountain Shadow Carriages, a local company that provides horse and carriage rides in the Boulder County area. Shoppers could see the horses, Clancy and Hamilton trotting through Niwot most of the day.

The gingerbread houses provided at the Holiday Market can be decorated and entered into a contest benefiting Cake4Kids. Shoppers were encouraged to bring their completed gingerbread house art to The Wheel House on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m.

The Niwot Historical Society sold holiday greeting cards at the Little Fire House Museum on Second Avenue next to the Grange on Dec. 2. The cards will again be available on Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The cards depict the property at 7980 Niwot Road, currently the home of the Niwot Market and Bank of Estes Park, a property of historical significance to Niwot. The cost is $20 for 12 cards and envelopes.

Kathy Koehler, president of the Niwot Historical Society said, "The sales of packets of cards are moving along and we have several remaining for the public. Several folks have conflicts on Saturdays so they have contacted me on the website and we have made arrangements to meet for packets of cards.

"The Niwot Historical Society has created holiday greeting cards for 10 years as a way of sharing Niwot history. We feature different properties which have usually been a local artist's winter painting on the cover with history on the inside."

This year is the first year that the Historical Society used a photo on their cards that reflects the past of the town. This year, the photo was provided by award-winning photographer Jeff Server, and is a beautiful depiction of the building covered in snow, along with three other pictures on the back of the card.

The Holiday Market will be back Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with some new booths and some you might have missed, all from local businesses.