Events this weekend
NOV. 11-13 * Christmas Village: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, 500 Wedgewood Ave., Nashville, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday (all times Central), $10; 260 booths of crafts and gifts spread through six buildings. www.christmasvillage.org. * Fall Market: First United Methodist Church, 3425 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland, Tenn., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, free admission, crafts vendors and bake sale. 423-476-4504. * Foothills Christmas Arts and Crafts Festival: Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center, 111 Hospitality Blvd., Exit 4 off I-24, Manchester, Tenn., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CST Friday and Saturday, free; sponsored by Foothills Craft Guild. 931-728-9236. * Gingerbread Shoppe: Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, free. 423-892-9363. * WTCI Family Day: WTCI public television station, 7540 Bonnyshire Drive, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, free; family event with PBS characters for photo-ops, children’s activities and demonstrations. 423-702-7819.Three East Brainerd housewives started a craft show in 1989 called The Gingerbread Shoppe as an outlet for their handmade products. Twenty-eight years later, that show is still going strong and the three crafters have expanded to 30.The Gingerbread Shoppe opens Friday, Nov. 11, in Christ United Methodist Church for a two-day run. Red Dueker, one of the founding trio, says this year’s vendors offer monogrammed items, wreaths and other Christmas decorations, decorated bird cages, primitives, superhero capes, knit and woven pieces, candles, jewelry, blown glass and baby items.Additionally women from Christ United Methodist Church, where the Gingerbread Shoppe is held, will sell soup, hot dogs and baked goods each day to raise funds for a church-supported program at The Bethlehem Center.”We have been going to the Bethlehem Center on Mondays for 20 years for an after-school program where we do crafts, Bible story and have snacks with children,” says Dueker. “We also hold a Bible school in summer, roller-skating party and Christmas party.”* A trip up I-24 to Nashville will get shoppers twice the bang for their bucks.The 55th annual Christmas Village, sponsored by Nashville’s Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, is Friday through Sunday, Nov. 11-13, at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds on Wedgewood Avenue. This show is about 75 percent gift market/ 25 percent crafts. Shoppers will find all types of gift ideas from boutique apparel to foods and dip mixes, upcycled/recycled items to multiple displays of silver jewelry.About 260 vendors will be spread throughout six buildings on the fairgrounds. It’s a lot of walking; Christmas Village veterans know to go to the last building first and move toward the front so as to avoid heavier crowds in Buildings 1 and 2.* A detour off I-24 at Exit 114 will lead right to the annual Foothills Christmas Arts and Crafts Festival in Manchester, Tenn, on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11-12. This show, sponsored by the Foothills Craft Association, is held in the Holiday Inn Conference Center, 111 Hospitality Blvd. Just bear right off the exit, and it’s on the right.In addition to 75 exhibitors, there will be a bake sale, and the conference center offers a hot lunch in a separate dining room both days.* WTCI’s annual Family Day is Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. This family event gives visitors an opportunity to learn what goes on at a PBS station and the role it plays in the community.In addition to green-screen activities, there will be a visit from EPB’s Professor Gigawatt and the Chattanooga Fire Department. Moms and dads may want to bring their cameras for kids’ photo-ops with favorite PBS Kids characters. Jennifer Crutchfield, WTCI director of public relations and community engagement, says Clifford, Curious George, Super Why and Word Girl are expected.Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.