Shoppers flock to Holiday Market at Jackson County Expo – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Karen Szewc of Liongate Farm holds an ornament she created during the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

Wood creations from Bill Henry’s Crafts, Wood and ETC are displayed at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

Wood creations from Bill Henry’s Crafts, Wood and ETC at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

Will Markling of Old World Candies in Ashland grabs some fudge for a local customer at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

The Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

Creations from Karen Szewc of Liongate Farm are displayed Saturday during the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

The parking lots were full Saturday for the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

People peruse the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo Saturday in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

Creations from Karen Szewc of Liongate Farm are displayed Saturday during the Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]

Liongate Farm owner Karen Szewc suffered an accident over the summer that left her recovering in a neck brace and head bandage, but it didn’t stop her from embracing customers with a smile and showing off her homemade ornaments at the Jackson County Expo’s Holiday Market this weekend.

Liongate Farm, based in Eagle Point, joined more than 100 other vendors throughout three buildings at the sprawling event space in Central Point. The event continues Sunday, and admission is free.

“It’s the first holiday show of the year. It’s just a really good venue to meet people and get our products out into the community,” Szewc said. “They love my stuff, and I tell them, ‘Merry Christmas!’”

While other vendors sold jams and jewelry, Szewc had at the ready ornaments or giftables made from the wool of the Bluefaced Leicester sheep she breeds. The collectibles at the booth ranged from serious to silly — a peace lion and a frog with “eye muffs,” not to mention the standard snowmen. And what else, of course? Sheep.

“I like to make high-quality ornaments or giftables that people can treasure for years instead of your commercially-produced ornaments,” Szewc said.

Judging by the enthusiasm at the Liongate Farm booth, it was evident customers, like Kim Spann, liked what they saw.

“My first stop,” said Spann, referring to Liongate Farm. “I just love her little critters. They’re so cute.”

She got a reindeer and pumpkin stitched from Szewc, plus a couple of her ornaments.

When it came to other vendors at the Holiday Market, there was much to offer Saturday — from Siskiyou Beehive Honey to chocolate peanut butter fudge, from essential oil to olive oil, from metallic lawn signs to wooden ones with Santa cows proclaiming “HAVE A MOOO-RY CHRISTMAS!”

Sara Boettcher, co-owner of Rogue Water IET, has been coming to the Holiday Market as a business owner for a few years, even before her current one was formed two years ago. Rogue Water IET makes lawn and wall art from metal using a water jet table.

“We love (the Holiday Market) — it’s a great way to meet new people. We see a lot of happy faces,” Boettcher said.

One of those happy faces was Medford resident Leona Westdahl, who has lived in the area for years but has never visited the Holiday Market until now.

“I’ve always wanted to go. I just never made the time,” Westdahl said. “I really don’t have a plan. I do want to eat. I smell yummy food.”

She pointed to a jacket for her dog as something she might buy at the event, but if nothing else, the Holiday Market would serve as a way for her to get to know other valley businesses she could shop at later.

All the while, Christmas tunes, from the traditional (“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”) to the modern (Mariah Carey’s “Christmas”) was heard over the loudspeakers.

“I’m a Grinch, I’m a scrooge — I don’t care about the holidays,” Westdahl said with a laugh. “I’m kidding. It’s very festive and beautiful.”

Julee Ferrara, of Eagle Point, has been coming to the Holiday Market for three years, determined to buy gifts for her family. That includes her 20-year-old twins who live at home and are trying to find an apartment.

“I just figured it’s Christmas time, I need to buy presents,” Ferrara said. “As long as you’re not buying anything extravagant and going crazy, you can still stay within your budget.”

Her comments come amid fears many people have about inflation, which the National Retail Federation touched on in a recent news release. While 62% of shoppers surveyed in September said it was important to spend and they’d cut back in other areas of their budgets to meet their holiday needs, 43% of them said they don’t make enough money to cover those costs.

Westdahl maintained she is careful about spending wherever she goes. Like Ferrera, she sees the Holiday Market as a draw for valley residents in part for what it is not — a shopping mall.

“One thing that’s nice about something like this is if I’m spending on supporting a local artist, then that helps,” Westdahl said.

The Holiday Market at the Jackson County Expo, 1 Peninger Road, Central Point, opens at 10 a.m. Sunday and closes at 3 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, log onto https://attheexpo.com/holiday-market/

Reach reporter Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or kopsahl@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KevJourno