Holiday Shopping

Another aspect of the Holiday season that can certainly be considered a tradition is shopping. While Black Friday is popular, Small Business Saturday has picked up A LOT of steam in ILLINOISouth. Whether it is in Mt. Carmel, Red Bud, Salem or anywhere in between - several local chambers of commerce put together ‘Shop Small’ events that give folks plenty of opportunities to buy unique gifts for loved ones, all while supporting people in their communities.

Warehouse 300 in Trenton

One place that supplies a one-stop-shop for several different gifts is Warehouse 300 in Trenton. They are hosting their Mistletoe Market Days from Wednesday, November 17th through Sunday, November 21st. This five-day event is full of shopping, twinkling lights, and lots of giveaways. There will be extended evening hours again this year until 6pm, and vendors will restock their areas throughout those five days, so there is always a great selection of Holiday décor and gift ideas. “Warehouse 300 loves hosting this Christmas event,” exclaims owner Brenda Kohlbrecher. “Our vendors go the extra mile in creating a festive shopping atmosphere! Extra vintage lights, holiday lights, Christmas trees, mantles, and light up merchandise can be found throughout the entire market.” In terms of social distancing, there will be a limit of 40 shoppers in the Warehouse at any given time. “The market never superseded two dozen at any one time last year, and it's a big place,” Kohlbrecher explains. “All that said, shopping at the warehouse is by far your safest experience as you prepare for the holidays! Make plans to attend Mistletoe Market Days! Or come shop Warehouse 300 during regular hours, and let us help you capture the holiday spirit!”

Christkindlmarkt in Belleville

Another place to do some shopping around this time is the POP-UP SHOP in Columbia! This historic venue gives entrepreneurs a retail space to sell their products to folks that they otherwise may not have the chance to sell to. Entrepreneurs cycle in and out of the space, so there is always something new and exciting to check out! Likely the most popular shopping event during the Holiday season is the Belleville Christkindlmarkt. This year marks the 8 th year of the market, which usually opens up the day after Thanksgiving, and is open each weekend afterwards all the way through December, ending on the 23 rd . It is modeled after one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets – and features chalets where vendors can sell their goods. There is such a good mix of shopping to be had, and that’s not all! There are also opportunities to meet Santa, and there are also live reindeer on display. People travel from hours around to experience one of the only German Christmas markets in the region, so be sure to mark this one on your calendars for sure!

Shop Small in Mt. Carmel

Yet another aspect of shopping during the Holiday season is picking out the perfect tree for your home! There are over a half-dozen tree farms and nurseries throughout ILLINOISouth that specialize in the pick-your-own tree experience. Two of those tree farms can be found in Bond County; Randy’s Country Barn sits north of Greenville, while Daniken Tree Farm is near Pocahontas. If you’re looking for a shopping opportunity while you’re picking out a tree, Randy’s Country Barn is the place to go. They have a great selection of gift items, including t-shirts and Holiday themed knick-knacks. Daniken Tree Farm has become a popular place for folks to meet Santa Claus before or after they head out to the field for their trees. Santa visits the first three weekends after Thanksgiving from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Christkindlmarkt in Belleville

Another staple in the southern Illinois Christmas tree scene is Alfeldt’s Tree Farm & Nursery in Washington County. Alfeldt’s has been growing trees since 1964, and has about 40 acres worth of trees to choose and cut from, ranging in height from 10 feet tall on and smaller. A very popular place to walk among rows and rows of lush white pines is Eckert’s in Belleville. Eckert’s also has a great Country Store to shop at, and a fantastic restaurant to order carry out from. In our eastern region, Dahnke’s Pine Patch near Martinsville brings in people from several counties around. This place is an absolute blast, not only do they offer patch pick trees, but they also have a picture patch, reindeer tours and a flight school, barn ball, a snowball arena and more! Dahnke’s has been a go-to place for Holiday tradition in Clark County for 37 years! Some of these establishments have implemented safety procedures to help protect visitors from the current pandemic, so we encourage you to call ahead or look each place up on Facebook before traveling - so you know exactly what those procedures are. Happy tree hunting!

Randy's Country Barn in Greenville