Staff Report
If your Christmas cheer hasn't quite kicked in - it's a bit early, yes, but why skimp on joy - then hie thee to the HoHo Expo. An event named for Santa's belly laugh is practically guaranteed to banish early onset bah-humbugs.
Presented by the Times Free Press, the second annual HoHo Expo is set for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
If you go> What: HoHo Expo.> When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22; 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23.> Where: Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St.> Admission: Free.> Phone: 423-757-6914.> Website: timesfreepressevents.com/hoho.Free Santa photosSaturday: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 2-4:30 p.m.Sunday: 1-3 p.m. and 3:30-5 p.m.Stage presentationsSaturday10:30 a.m. Cottage Closet Boutique and Consignment11 a.m. Viatek Consumer Products Group11:30 a.m. Click It HotNoon. Mary & Martha12:30 p.m. The Rustic House1 p.m. Doctors Express1:30 p.m. Mountain Top Toys2 p.m. Natural Allure2:30 p.m. It Works! Sheree Wraps It Up3 p.m. Southern Charm3:30 p.m. Salon Haven4 p.m. Ballet Tennessee4 p.m. As the Wood TurnsSunday1:30 p.m. Southern Sheek2 p.m. Girl Scout Council2:30 p.m. B's Sweets3 p.m. The Owl Cove3:30 p.m. Lila Body Contouring4 p.m. Sannie Mae's Heirloom Foods4:30 p.m. ZirkOps Training4:40 p.m. Carter Shooting Supply
More than 150 businesses will deck the exhibit halls with products and services for gift-giving - everything from clothes to food to toys to Christmas trees.
But it's more than a holiday market. The HoHo Expo is a Chattanooga-style mini North Pole, complete with snow and candy canes and Santa, who'll pose for free photos.
Also up for photo-ops will be Anna and Elsa from "Frozen." Live music will add the seasonal soundtrack, and you can snack on apple cider and sugar cookies while you roam.
A Kids Activity Zone will offer young visitors a chance to make ornaments, color and listen to stories. The Man Cave will serve up beer and football (college games on the big screen Saturday, the NFL on Sunday).
Giveaways will take place throughout the weekend. Grand prize is "A Country Christmas" at Gaylord Opryland, which includes a two-night stay at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, plus tickets to the winter wonderland called Ice, a Rockettes performance, a dinner show with country band Restless Heart, an arts-and-crafts show and a riverboat ride.