Christmas Through Lowell roared with success, as thousands attended

“Red Barn Market featured eight vendors, including Earth Stories Jewelry with Mary and Mike Lacy. “The atmosphere at Red Barn is so friendly and welcoming,” Mary Lacy said. “All the vendors are super nice and helpful. I love meeting new people and like to hear their stories about rock-collecting. Children are especially fascinated with various stones and rocks, so we sell $1 and $2 polished stones for them.”

By Emma Palova - contributing writer

This year’s Christmas Through Lowell (CTL) attracted thousands of visitors, from far and near, to the three-day event under the November sun. Shoppers shared that it was difficult to get through the crowds on Main Street, but parking was not an issue.

“It was hard to get anywhere around town on Saturday, but I found parking,” said first-time CTL shopper, Julie Vennman, of Wyoming. Vennman found out about the event from a CTL insert and headed to Lowell twice, both on Saturday and Sunday. “It’s been nice to see other people’s talents,” she said. “I’ve never been to this. I found the homes interesting, especially The Grinch, because I love the Grinch.”

The CTL tour is a combination of businesses, organizations, and homes, both in the downtown area and the outlaying townships of Lowell and Vergennes. “The homes are nice because there is more room,” she said. “I’ll definitely come back next year.” According to Vennman, some businesses did not have enough room for strollers. “I found nice variety everywhere,” she said. Not too many duplicates.”

And certainly, there were not too many duplicates of anything, in multiple-vendor locations, such as the Lowell Area Historical Museum with eight vendors. “This is my fifth year at the museum,” said Maxine Shearer. “I love it here.” Shearer was stationed in the Native American Exhibit with her Glass Fusion art.

This was the third year for Dave and Cammy Thornton of Addieland Candles, also at the museum, and their first year in the special exhibit Robert & Ernest Graham Room with displays dedicated to the famous Lowell architect. Addieland sold-out of most of their candles, mainly, the Fraser fir scent.

The Old Theater (TOT) hosted 17 diverse vendors, including Incredibly Crafted with Christin Sheahan of Caledonia, who works to bring awareness to getting stuck in negative patterns and isolation, and teaches people how to rewire their nervous system.

“When we experience intense emotions or traumatic events, our bodies create chemicals and peptides to survive them,” Sheahan said.

Located on the stage for the first time this year, was Lowell photographer, Bruce Doll of Images of Vision, with calendars, postcards, framed photographs, and a digital screen depicting photography scenes from the Greater Lowell area. “It was so much fun meeting people who follow me on Facebook,” he said, cracking a joke. “They would walk up, look at the pictures and say to me ‘Are you Bruce?’ I think I will get a tee shirt that says, ‘Yes, I am Bruce.”

Doll loved the venue, “David and Lisa worked hard to make it perfect for the vendors. Many people were impressed with the event and wished their town had something like it.” Also on the stage was Emilie Rue with Custom Tumblers. “Christmas Through Lowell (CTL) enchanted The Old Theater, turning it into an illuminated artisanal haven,” said co-owner David Reed. “This hallmark event not only introduced many to The Old Theater but also shared its rich history, inviting newcomers to be part of its promising future.”

Highlights included customers returning for standout freeze-dried snacks, Doll’s vibrant photos on the stage, and Julie’s affordable, colorful pottery, thrilling ceramics enthusiasts. Leaflet’s bouquets left the venue in the hands of smiling shoppers. “As we look forward to next year, we anticipate building on these successes, potentially adding more vendors to enhance the event’s flow and continue supporting artisans in our community,” Reed said.

Red Barn Market featured eight vendors, including Earth Stories Jewelry with Mary and Mike Lacy. “The atmosphere at Red Barn is so friendly and welcoming,” Mary Lacy said. “All the vendors are super nice and helpful. I love meeting new people and like to hear their stories about rock-collecting. Children are especially fascinated with various stones and rocks, so we sell $1 and $2 polished stones for them.”

Chamber Director, Shannon Kennedy, estimated the number of guests going through CTL well over 10,000, based on vendor feedback. “Only a half-day into the event, several homes reported the need to start pulling from their back stock and replenishing their displays on Friday afternoon. From there, it only got crazier.”

Kennedy worked her first year as the new Chamber Director and enjoyed being behind the scenes to see things from a different perspective. “I am proud of the Lowell community and everyone who has worked so hard to build this event into what it is today. Christmas Through Lowell is truly a wonderful experience - for shoppers, vendors, and local businesses, alike. I’m already looking forward to our 2024 event,” she said.