Square Undergoes Seasonal Transition

Sunday, November 18, 2012

— Farmers’ Market vendor Reta Pense packed her jars of jam Saturday, as Robert Harris dusted off his Santa Claus suit.

The two area residents took part in what’s become a seasonal transition on the square.

“It’s the last day of the Farmers’ Market and the kickoff for the lights in the square,” said Godwin-Charles Ogbeide, an associate professor with the University of Arkansas’ hospitality and restaurant management program. “It’s a tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season.”

Ogbeide said his students helped plan Saturday’s Lighting Night parade to kick off the Lights of the Ozarks display.

At A Glance

Fayetteville Farmers’ Market

-The downtown Fayetteville Farmers’ Market takes place each year from April though November.

-The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Farmers Market takes place from May to October.

-The Lights of the Ozaks will continue until Dec. 31.

Source: Staff Report

The parade included a variety of floats, dancers and holiday music. Other activities included pony, camel and carriage rides in the square.

“The lights always attract people,” Ogbeide said. “They bring life to the square.”

Harris said Saturday was his first year to take part in the parade.

For the past several years, he’s dressed in a homemade Santa suit and stood outside the Fayetteville Trading Post on North College Avenue. He greets customers and hands out stuffed animals provided by the owner of the store.

“I’ve always looked like Santa,” he said. “No matter where I go, kids are always saying ‘Look mom, there’s Santa Claus.’”

Marilyn Heifner, director of the Advertising and Promotion Commission, said the lights in the square help drive the downtown economy in the absence of the Farmers’ Market. The event draws in nearly 300,000 people each year and features 450,000 lights.

“It’s definitely a benefit,” she said. “When the lights are up, people eat in our restaurants and stay in our hotels.”

Prior to Saturday’s parade, many patrons made one last stop by the Farmers’ Market to stock up on holiday goods.

In addition to her homemade jams, Pense, sold gift jars containing the ingredients for holiday treats.

“I haven’t sold that many,” she said. “A lot of people look at them and realize they can make the same thing at home.”

Web Watch

Fayetteville Farmers’ Market

For more information, visit: www.fayettevillefar….

Lights Of The Ozarks

For a schedule or events for Lights of the Ozarks, visit: www.thelightsoftheo….

Marilyn Pennington, who sells cutting boards, deemed this year’s market an overall success.

“Business was down over the summer because of the drought, but it picked back up,” she said.

Pennington and her husband, Howard Pennington, spend about a week carving each cutting board.

Their son, Randy Pennington, finds the wood near their home in Winslow and dries it for two to three years.

“We spend a little time carving each day,” Marilyn Pennington said. “I can’t tell you how many we’ve made over the years.”

Among the other seasonal items on display Saturday were Christmas wreathes made by Judy Kavan.

Kavan, who normally sells fresh-cut flowers and vegetables, said she bundles pine branches to a metal band to create holiday wreaths.

“I usually make the wreaths this time of year to help transition into the holidays,” she said.

Kavan said she plans to sell her wreaths during a holiday market on Dec. 1 at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.