Holiday season kicks off with Holiday Market, Gaslight Gala, and UAFS Lighting

The Fort Smith region is gearing up for the Christmas season with Junior League's annual Holiday Market, the Drennen-Scott Historic Site's Victorian Open House, the Gaslight Gala and the lighting of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith campus. Bundle up and go be merry.

Holiday Market
Locals can knock out much of their Christmas shopping and support a good cause at Junior League of Fort Smith's annual Holiday Market. Hosted at the Convention Center in downtown Fort Smith, the Market will include three days of shopping and a number of special events Nov. 20-22.

General shopping will be held on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For $5, guests will have the chance to browse 120 specialty vendor booths that will feature food, clothing, jewelry, home decor, and more.

VIP shopping will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. on Thursday. For $12, guests can shop early, while enjoying a complimentary drink. Shoppers will also enjoy a special preview party and be entered to win a $1,000 shopping spree from Newton's Jewelers. VIP tickets are $12.

A Masquerade Gala will be held on Friday night and will include dinner, drinks, dessert and De Beers Diamonds. In addition to premier food and beverage, the evening will include a live and silent auction, live music by Mr. Cabbage Head and the Screaming Radishes, and a chance to win a De Beers Diamond Necklace from Newton's Jewelers. Special guest Bailey Moses, first runner-up at Miss Arkansas 2014, will also be in attendance. The gala will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Individual tickets are $55, with tables for eight available for $400.

Saturday morning will be all about Santa. Kids will get to sit with Santa Claus and have their photo made, and will take home their very own stocking. The fun will also include face painting, balloon art, and live characters in attendance. The family-friendly event will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Admission is $15 and includes entrance and shopping for two adults and one child.

Festivities will conclude on Saturday evening with the Girls' Night Out event. Held from 6 to 10 p.m., the fun and fashion event will include hors d'oeuvres, dessert and specialty drinks. Visitors will enjoy a fashion show, with guest Laina Berry as emcee. The night will also include shopping, a silent auction, a photo booth, and music with DJ Ronnie Newton. Tickets are $30 per person. Tables are available for $200 and include a bottle of champagne and reserved seating for eight people.

All events will be held at the Fort Smith Convention Center. For more information, call 831-3780.

International Festival
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will celebrate cultures around the world at its Fall International Festival on Nov. 20. iFest 2014 will offer attendees a glimpse into the clothing, cuisines, and unique customs of 30 countries around the globe.

Booths will be set up throughout the Reynolds Room, located in the campus's Smith-Pendergraft Student Center, featuring displays about each nation. Many will include hands-on activities and performances.

Festival organizers will also announce the winners of “Visions of the World,” the second-annual student art competition. For the contest, students receive eight-inch by eight-inch canvases and paint a work representing their vision of the world in which they live. Winners are voted upon by university faculty, staff and students. The paintings will hang in the campus center from Nov. 10 through Dec. 8.

The festival will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission to iFest is free and open to the public. For more information, call 788-7975.

Drennen-Scott Holiday Open House
The Drennen-Scott Historic Site in Van Buren will celebrate the holidays with a Victorian Christmas Open House on Nov. 22. The home will feature Victorian-era Christmas decor, which will include trimmings throughout the house and outdoor luminaries.

Visitors may sip on eggnog and dine on delicious treats while listening to classic carols. Carriage rides will be offered and a Victorian Santa will make an appearance in the Visitors Center.

Parking is free, but is limited. Additional spaces will be available at the Crawford County Courthouse. Admission is free and open to the public. The Open House will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The home is located at 221 N. 3rd St., in Van Buren. For more information, call 262-2750.

Gaslight Gala
It will be reminiscent of an old-fashioned Christmas as the Clayton House in Fort Smith hosts its annual Gaslight Gala on Nov. 22.

The event will mark the start of the holiday season at the historic home, which will be decorated inside and out by professional designers. Guests will also dine on hors d'oeuvres and desserts, and enjoy holiday punch and spirits. A silent auction will also be held.

Gala-goers will enjoy a visit by several figures from the 1880s, dressed in traditional attire for the era. The party will also welcome carolers who will perform a number of Christmas tunes.

The gala will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the historic home, located at 514 N. 6th St. Individual tickets are $50 and can be purchased online. Corporate tables are also available. For more information, call 783-3000.

UAFS Holiday Lighting Ceremony
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith campus will become aglow on Nov. 25, as the school hosts its holiday annual lighting ceremony.

Festivities will take place outside of the Stubblefield Center, where the audience will view the campus adorned with holiday decorations. The ceremony will take place between the UAFS women’s and men’s basketball games, which occur at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively.

Vocalists will perform live seasonal music, and hot chocolate will be served to those in attendance. Following the ceremony, visitors will be able to walk the grounds and enjoy the beautiful light display.

Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. For more information, call 783-7300.