On Saturday, Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Yuletide Market, a popular tradition in the area since its inception in 2014 by Kristine Paxton, will be back at Platte City Middle School, after a missed year in 2020, due to COVID-19.
This fund raiser for the Platte County High School Music Parents Association (MPA), now in its seventh year, provides a large and convenient shopping event for community members, plus the opportunity for local vendors and national franchisees to sell their crafts and wares, while assisting in raising funds for the MPA to provide assistance for the bands and choral departments.
Co-chairs of the Yuletide Market committee, Katharine Fairchild and Stephanie Hamilton Aguilar have been working together since the 2021 school year began. Fairchild volunteered after Aguilar requested help from members of the MPA. Christy Britz is the MPA president this year.
“I’ve assisted with fundraising in the past and wanted to be able to help as needed,” Fairchild said.
Both have kids in the music program at the school. Fairchild is the parent of a freshman honor choir student.
The Platte County Pirates Choir Department is led by: Brian von Glahn, director of choral activities, Lily Fisher, assistant director and Christopher Alexander, accompanist. Matthew Bonsignore is the director of bands, who also works with Connor Callahan, associate director of bands and Jonathan Bailey, assistant director of bands.
About 72 vendors will be at the event Many different handmade items will be for sale, such as pottery, crocheted items wood-working, jewelry, clothing, candles, home décor, food, metal tumblers, wreaths, Christmas items and much more. Famous brand names can be found also, like Scentsy, LulaRoe and Pampered Chef. Not-for-profits, Sisters of Solace and Risen from the Ashes, will be in attendance also.There will be something for everyone at the market. “You know, I’ve heard so much about Christmas not being the same because of all of the distribution issues our country is facing presently,” Aguilar said. “The work of local makers, artists, and creatives is not stuck on a dock on one of the coasts waiting to ship. The Yuletide Market is the perfect opportunity to shop local! Not only will people be helping our local artisans and small business owners, the community will also be supporting young musicians in our school district.”
Fairchild thinks since they have found a variety of vendors from across the Kansas City area, attendees should be able to find items such as special earrings or a fun lamp shade as a gift, or for themselves.
“We ask that attendees enter through the front doors of Platte City Middle School, Fairchild said. “Upon entering, admission to the Yuletide Market is $2/person, but this fee gives you a raffle ticket towards a prize. You can try to win a specific item at the 2021 Yuletide Market and can buy as many tickets as you want. Hopefully, people can win more than one item. We also plan to have student and parent volunteers assisting throughout the day. We hope to play holiday music via the school sound system throughout the day.”
One of the young musicians at the school will be playing the saxophone for attendees at noon.
School and local organizations will be promoting their events, and the Platte County High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) will have a concessions stand. Other vendors will be selling take-away food items such as hot chocolate bombs and dip mixes.
Vendors such as Tastefully Simple, All About Dips and You’re the Bomb: Cocoa Bombs and More, will be selling treats.MPA plans to have as many raffle prizes as there are vendors. “I have seen some of the prizes, like a small gnome door for the oak tree in your yard, a Kansas City Chiefs pendant and a holiday-themed lighted glass brick,” Fairchild said. “I definitely want to buy extra raffle tickets to try to win some of these and other prizes.”
A few years ago, Fairchild remembers T-shirts designed and printed by local makers that were already gone when she went back to purchase one. “One year, a local crafter had decorative Christmas lanterns with battery- operated lights that were a favorite,” Fairchild said. Aguilar said they have more and more donations coming in every day for the raffle. “I encourage all to check out our events page on Facebook, as many are posted there. We have candles, holiday decor, jewelry, pottery, and so much more. There are so many unique gift items to choose from. This really is the perfect way for people to find unique and affordable Christmas gifts, and not only will people find gifts for their loved ones, they will be giving a gift to the community by buying local and supporting their school’s music programs.”
Fairchild believes that people want to shop again and be around others after buying everything online for the 2020 holidays. “I also think that people want to ‘buy local’ and support the makers and vendors that are nearby. Yuletide Market items will be one-of-a-kind and not found in a big box store.”
The fund raiser will be a win-win for everyone. The MPA supports the Platte County High School Music Program, including the award-winning Traditions marching band, Pride Performance band, and Sound Express, and the Platte County High School show and chamber choir. The MPA provides money and volunteer support for equipment, uniforms, prop building and transport to competitions, meals and snacks for students, directors, and judges at various events and competitions, the Water Brigade during marching season, the annual light show, the end-of-band camp tailgate party, and fund raising events like the Yuletide Market.
“The MPA’s support of the music program takes a significant load off the directors, which enables them to focus on the program and our kids,” Fairchild said.
The importance of encouraging young people to learn to play instruments can result in a love of music that lasts a lifetime. “Studies have shown that learning music facilitates learning in other subjects and enhances skills that are used in other areas of their lives as well,” Aguilar said. “Music really supports all learning, and the love of music is something that stays with a person long after formal education is completed. Music is woven into the fabric of every aspect of our lives.”
Fairchild said that she is not an educator, but she knows that music is something that will stay with a person throughout their life, from youth to the end of their days. “I think that there are music classes for everyone,” Fairchild said. “Maybe it’s choir for some, and band or orchestra for others and for some it is simply music appreciation.”Fairchild is grateful for getting to know many incredible people in the Music Parent Association. “I’m proud to have met so many local makers and crafters, either on-line or in-person, during our search for businesses,”Fairchild said.
Aguilar’s favorite part of organizing the market has been that it has been such a whirlwind of activity.”I volunteered to coordinate the event this summer, and I was so excited to have Katharine join me this fall,” Aguilar said. “As in most things, it is the people that make an event. Getting to know fellow parents as well as all the local artists and makers in this community has been fantastic. It will be great to see it all come together and invite the community to share in this with us on Saturday.”