Despite the cold December temperatures, the Moscow Winter Market continues to play a large part in the community, offering a wide variety of homemade goods, knickknacks and food for the community to enjoy.
With more than 30 vendors from all around the Palouse, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 10, Feb. 4 and March 4, the Moscow community can buy local hand-made goods and fresh produce.
Whether it be freshly made tamales or hand-crafted necklaces, Moscow locals dedicate their time at the market to visit with friends, browse through vendors or simply sip a warm cup of hot chocolate.
Scattered around the 1912 Center in various rooms and balconies, vendors set up their stands, ready to talk to anybody who walked by.
Much like the Moscow Famers Market, which takes place during warmer months with vendors lined down Main Street, the winter market takes place indoors so shoppers can keep away from the cold. But Dec. 3, the sunshine allowed some produce vendors to set up their stands outside.
The winter market brings local businesses and the community together, but it also provides individuals with the opportunity to listen to music and donate to local charities.
One of the local vendors that set up at the market, the Purple Paisley Quilters, is well-known for its handmade quilts, but the vendor also sells knitted gloves, hats and scarves.
“Whatever inspires us during the year, we sell,” said Mary George, member of the Purple Paisley Quilters.
The Christmas spirit shines bright with the Purple Paisley Quilters, as all of the proceeds from the winter market are donated to local charities, George said.
“All the money that we make from what we do with our hobby here, we give to charity. So most are local charities like the Humane Society of the Palouse, the Moscow Food Bank and the Village Bicycle Project,” said Judy LaLonde, another member of the Purple Paisley Quilters.
A different vendor at the market provided a unique spin on the market goods. Elinor Michel and Kathy Dawes, both members of the Moscow Sesitshaya Marimba Ensemble, set up their stand at the market to sell CDs to raise money for a scholarship fund that benefits University of Idaho and Washington State University students.
Dawes said the Marimba Ensemble creates music from marimbas, drums and singers to produce CDs for a good cause.
“Our second CD just came out, it’s brand new,” Michel said. “We thought this would be a perfect Christmas gift.”
Savannah Cardon can be reached at [email protected]