Need a little practice for Black Friday?
The HoHo Expo is here to help.
Presented by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the expo marks its third year with an array of activities Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-22, to put visitors in a holiday mood.
Think: Santa Claus. Seasonal music. Shopping stops. Cookies and cider. “Frozen” photo-ops.
While that may sound like a slam dunk for mom and the kids – who can play in their own activity zone, by the way – dads aren’t forgotten. A Man Cave will be set up inside the sprawling exhibit hall at the Chattanooga Convention Center, and one of the vendors has a Yeti cooler as a door prize.
Among the highlights, of course, is the chance to peruse the merchandise from scores of stores and other businesses all in one place. The list includes purveyors of clothing, food, toys, accessories, health and beauty products, home improvement services and travel planning. With 220 vendor booths displaying products, that’s one-stop shopping on a grand scale.
Which means you may go in thinking this is a practice run for your holiday shopping but come out checking off the last name on your list.
And finishing your Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving is practically guaranteed to enhance your holiday mood.
Admission and parking are free for expo goers all weekend, as are photos with Santa.
Your participation also supports three charities: the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Toys for Tots and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Don’t-miss moments on the main stage
Storytelling
Nashville musician and author Buddy Kalb, perhaps best known for his song collaborations with Ray Stevens, will read from his new book, “Meanwhile Back at the North Pole,” at 11 a.m. Saturday. (Also Saturday, Kalb will be at Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., for a reading and book signing at 2 p.m.)
Fashion Show
Seasonal fashions from HoHo Expo vendors will be spotlighted in a fashion show at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Anna and Elsa appearances
The characters from Disney’s wildly popular “Frozen” franchise will perform and pose for photos at 3 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Holiday ballet
Ballet Tennessee dancers will preview their holiday show, “A Christmas Carol,” at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. This original ballet by Barry VanCura is one of few ballet adaptations of the Charles Dickens classic. In 2005, the work was filmed by local PBS station WTCI and shown nationally. It will be presented Dec. 19-20 in the UTC Fine Arts Center.
Miss East Tennessee Winterfest
Ashley Broockman, recently named Miss East Tennessee Winterfest, will perform at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. A Verizon sales representative and communications graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she will compete at the Miss Tennessee Pageant next summer in Jackson.