Southern Christmas Show

This blog is written by Jan Todd, an associate of The Lake Wylie Man:

Christmas is full of traditions. For some people, Christmas wouldn't seem like Christmas without eggnog . . . the smell of a freshly cut evergreen tree . . . fresh popped popcorn strung on a thread, hung on the tree . . . a visit to Santa at the mall . . . the Hallelujah Chorus.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions actually occurs in mid-November: The Southern Christmas show! With three huge trade-show rooms full of arts & crafts, sweets & hot sauces, ornaments and home decor, it is a 12-day show that just shouldn't be missed. In fact, I don't think I've missed one in over 20 years.

In my early ventures, I loaded up on Christmas decorations for my first home . . . then next home . . . then next home. Then I decided I had quite enough (in fact, TOO much) ornaments and holiday decor. But fear not, there was still more to shop for: art for my walls, a rocking chair, sports memorabilia, gifts, hats & scarves, and of course, hot sauces!

Each year, vendors offer samples of Jamaican jerk sauces, dips, barbecue sauces, gourmet hot chocolates, spiced pecans, burn-the-roof-of-your-mouth-and-cry-for-mama salsas, and more. Oh what fun it is to try, fa la la la la! I learned early on to save the gift packs of salsa for the end of the show (I try to buy nothing over 1 pound in weight early on).

Merchants have figured this out as well. Towards the back of display room #2, shopping carts on wheels do a brisk business, as do foot massagers and gel-soles.

This year, I was delighted to once again see The Gourd Lady. (See picture) This delightful lady is 95 years old, and had been selling her wares at the Christmas show since it was invented. She has been on Jay Leno twice, has rubbed elbows with big stars such as Denzel Washington, and has a children's home named after her. Her claim to fame? She wears a vegetable on her head. I kid you not! She'll let you take a picture, but will ask for a $1 donation for the children's home.

Now that's what Christmas is about. Have a wonderful holiday season, go to the Christmas show, and visit The Lake Wylie Man for a list of holiday events in Lake Wylie, a fantastic (and free!) Lake Wylie real estate search, and more. Thanks for reading!