NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Merriment and cheer came in full force at Historic Jefferson Street last week in Kossie Gardner, Sr. Park with a Holiday Village featuring food trucks and shopping, Black Santa, caroling, a hot cocoa station, the North Nashville Arts Table, Hip-Hop DJ’s, children’s reading, and a festive tree surrounded by decorations.
Market Coordinator at the Nashville Farmers Market Yolanda Manning said goods available at local business stations included arts and crafts, jewelry, candles, self-care products, and gift-giving items.
Co-founder of the Nashville Black Market Carlos Partee said that he was extremely excited to see people driving up and down the different streets of the Village, stopping in awe of the decorations.
“Also, just excited to see the community at large be able to have something available for their use,” Partee said. “Growing up in North Nashville, in that community, you have to go outside of the community to kind of get the things you needed … and so to be able to kind of bring something back to the community or start something in the community, with great like-minded people, I think is amazing.”
Partee said the event gave the community something to look forward to that would not leave them feeling pushed or forced out of where they live. He said he was also excited to give local entrepreneurs the opportunity for exposure during the holiday season, and the local community a chance to explore their merchandise. Partee said that present shopping during the holiday season can be especially difficult for some people and that events such as this can help provide new gift ideas.
Manning and Partee both said they and their organizations were recruited for the Holiday Village by Civic Design Center. Manning said other organizations who helped put together Holiday Village include the Jefferson Street Historical Society, Mojo Marketing, and the Nashville Farmers Market. Manning said that her role largely included working the application process and recruiting some vendors, while Carlos said he largely focused on connecting parties to each other and keeping projects on schedule.
Manning said she felt the Village acted as a big attraction for those just outside of its festivities, particularly within walking distance. She agreed with Carlos and said that it is of great community benefit for residents to have the opportunity of going to a holiday event and “being able to see people who look like you.”
“Just to have this very festive time in such a time we’re in, in the world, just to be able to have this installment in your area and in your community to be able to just have a break from all of the other things we’re navigating every day,” Manning said.
Partee agreed with Manning that a goal of the Holiday Village is to bring cheer and allow a break from the negativity and turmoil that has been present in the world as of late. He said that though there have been other more art-focused installations in the past, this is the first vendor-focused holiday market being featured in Kossie Gardner, Sr. Park. Partee and Manning said that they were very excited to unveil the new and exciting event, as it was largely working as a tryout for future events on an annual basis.
Citizens can follow up on events sponsored by the Nashville Black Market at thenashvilleblackmarket.com, and the Nashville Farmers Market at nashvillefarmersmarket.org.
