Normal-Palooza will throw a day-long block party on Mississippi Avenue Saturday to raise money for the school.The mother of all craft shows takes place in Birmingham, Ala., this weekend.
Birmingham Christmas Village bills itself as the “largest indoor arts and crafts show in the South” – and it’s not bragging when you can back it up. This huge show packs 3,000 exhibitors into Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Doors open at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and close at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.
But there are closer options.
The Gingerbread Shoppe Craft Show opens for its 24th year on Friday. It was started by three friends who lived in Hurricane Creek subdivision as a way to show and sell their handmade items. They included their crafty friends as well and put on a neighborhood show in the Hurricane Creek clubhouse. By 1998, the women needed a bigger venue, so the show moved to Christ United Methodist Church, where it has been held since.
This is a smaller show – organizer Red Duecker says there will be 30 exhibitors this weekend – but the crafts are diverse and the atmosphere is fun and friendly like a community party because many of the shoppers are their East Brainerd/Ooltewah neighbors.