The Jamestown Holiday Artisan Bazaar will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 and 18 in downtown Jamestown. The bazaar will feature handmade crafts and goods; Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves; live music; hot cocoa and candy canes.

Diana Scott, bazaar organizer, said the planning of the event is going well, with 50-60 vendors scheduled to attend each Saturday. She said space for indoor vendors is already full, but there is still space available outdoors for people who don’t mind the winter elements. She added vendors will be located in four locations – the former Dykeman Building along East Second Street; former US News location along West Third Street; Winter Garden Plaza along North Main Street; and Potters Terrace along East Third Street.

To discover what activities people would like to see downtown during the bazaar, Scott said she asked people to share their favorite holiday memories on Facebook. She said people responded by stating they wanted to see more beautifully decorated business window fronts, the ringing of bells and playing of Christmas music and seeing Santa and Mrs. Claus downtown.

“That was my goal. I’m trying to make sure we bring back all the wonderful holiday memories,” she said.

People enjoying the 2018 Jamestown Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration. A new Jamestown Artisan Christmas Bazaar will be held this year during the three Saturdays prior to Christmas that will include local vendors and downtown businesses. P-J file photo

Scott said the vendors and activities, like Santa Claus at the Winter Garden Plaza from 1-3 p.m. each Saturday, are in several different locations to encourage people to walk around downtown Jamestown to discover the new businesses and restaurants some people might not know to exist.

“We’re trying to force people to walk from one end of town to the other,” she said. “As they are walking around, they can see the stuff they might not know is here. We’re trying to encourage businesses to be opened and extend their hours.”

Scott said several volunteers have been assisting with the planning of the bazaar and will be helping each Saturday.

“We have had quite an outreach of support. We’ve been having weekly meetings,” she said. “We have quite a few volunteers. I’m feeling very good about that.”

For more information or to be a volunteer or vendor, contact Scott at 640-6035 or visit the Jamestown Artisan Holiday Bazaar on Facebook.