First Coast Cultural Center’s 35th annual Holiday Shoppes will be held Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 6000B Sawgrass Village Circle in Ponte Vedra Beach.
A $5 donation will be accepted at the door, and every dollar helps support FCCC’s art and music therapy programs in four Title 1 St. Johns County schools.
“Holiday Shoppes is a festive shopping experience filled with creativity, community and holiday cheer. Guests enjoy the experience while their purchases support the vendors as well as FCCC’s children’s art initiatives,” said Silvia Romero, FCCC’s executive director.
This year features 14 returning favorites and new merchants, offering handmade and high-end jewelry, wood carvings, accessories, clothing, local honey, ceramics, glasswork and travel packages. Additionally, there will be a complimentary gift-wrapping station and a chance to win an artful gift basket in a hand-turned hickory bowl.
A special private preview on Friday, Nov. 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., offers an early look at handcrafted goods from local, national and international artisans and vendors. Preview tickets are $45, and live music will feature a harpist and student pianists from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Also, The Kookaburra will sell coffee, tea and pastries.
A portion of proceeds supports the nonprofit’s afterschool arts education program and the Sound Connections Music Therapy outreach in St. Johns County schools. Sound Connections is celebrating its 20th year, providing no-cost therapeutic interventions during the school day through a nationally board-certified music therapist.
The two programs reach 500 students per semester, according to Romero, and the services are solely supported by grants and supplemented by events such as Holiday Shoppes.
The presenting sponsor for this event is Land Rover Jacksonville, and there will be a Land Rover SUV on display. In addition, United Community Bank of PVB is the Sound Connections Music Therapy sponsor with Momentum Fit PVB sponsoring the preview night bar and Joanie Heighes of Engel & Völkers PVB sponsoring the gift-wrapping station. First impressions sponsors include The Claxton Bank of PVB, Edie Williams State Farm Insurance of PVB, Language Exploration Enrichment and Shea Beaudreau of California Closets of PVB.
Visitors can also view the Best of JAM (Juried Artist Member) exhibition in the Cultural Center’s galleries. The exhibition features three award-winning artists working in two- and three-dimensional art and photography, with paintings, photography and hand-crafted wooden lamps and furniture available for purchase.
