VIENNA — The Knights of Columbus Hall in Vienna was bustling on Saturday with the Historical Society of Maries County’s (HSMC) annual Christmas Market, a community tradition that filled the hall with more than 50 vendors and well over a thousand shoppers, according to Director Lisa Jones.

This year marked the twentieth Christmas Market, a milestone that brought smiles and memories for the longtime organizers who have seen it grow from humble beginnings into one of the community’s most anticipated events. Glenda Baxter, co-organizer for the event, said they have come a long way since the first Christmas Market way back when.

“When we started out, the Historical Society had just bought the old Methodist Church, and it was in terrible condition,” Baxter said. “We had our first craft show there with no heat, no cool, it was very primitive. We did our first four shows there, and then Lisa got involved, and we came into the modern world.”

What began with around 15 vendors and 450 shoppers now brings in more than 1,500 visitors from across the region. This year’s market featured 52 indoor booths and four more set up outside. From handmade crafts to baked goods and holiday decorations, the market was filled with color, creativity and the hum of conversation.

For the Historical Society, the event is more than a fundraiser, it’s a way to support Vienna’s small-town economy.

“It brings so much business to the community,” both Jones and Baxter said. “We not only raise money for the Historical Society, but we also promote local businesses. Many of them hold specials or open houses during the weekend. The Knights of Columbus serve food in the cafeteria, which helps raise funds for them, too. It just brings a lot of business to town.”

Coordinating with vendors remains one of the most challenging parts of putting on the market each year, as the organizers try to balance variety with space.

“We get a lot of phone calls, a lot of people wanting to come,” Jones said. “We don’t always have room, but we try to find the perfect blend of vendors to meet our customers’ needs, the best of the best of mid-Missouri.”

Even after two decades, the team still looks for ways to make each market fresh. This year, a new pottery vendor joined the lineup, something the organizers had hoped to feature for years.

“It’s such a lost art,” Jones said. “We’ve been trying to get pottery for a long time, and we finally found someone who does it beautifully.”

For those behind the event, the work never truly ends.

“I’ve been involved in the Historical Society for a long time, and it just consumes our life,” Baxter said while laughing. “We get maybe a two-month break, and then we start working on the next one.”

Each year, the Christmas Market depends on the support of local volunteers and youth groups who make setup and teardown possible.

“We are so blessed by our community’s response,” Jones said. “The WINGS Catholic Youth Group comes Friday night and Saturday morning to help all of our vendors carry in. Vendors say it’s the best help they receive at any show. They do it just to help, not for money. And by three o’clock, after the show ends, the hall is spotless.”

The market also features a raffle, one of the Historical Society’s largest fundraisers alongside the spring and fall craft shows. This year’s prizes included a hand-stitched quilt and Adirondack chairs handcrafted by Carl Henderson. Proceeds will go toward ongoing restoration and expansion projects at the Old Jail Museum complex.

As the day wrapped up and the vendors packed away their goods, there was a shared sense of gratitude for another successful year.

“The Knights have done a wonderful job hosting and cooking, and we couldn’t do this without the support of our community,” Jones said.