Neighbor News
3000 visitors, 8 food trucks, 68 Vendors, 25 Horses
Oh, what fun was had at the High Hopes 9th Annual Holiday Market.
It may have been a cool day, but there was plenty of warm, holiday cheer at the High Hopes' 9th Annual Holiday Market. Between 11 am and 4 pm, over 3000 visitors came through the gates at the farm on Town Woods Rd. in Old Lyme.
Due to the generosity of Event Partners Benchmark Wealth Management, entry to the market was free with a non-perishable food item for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries and over 2,900 lbs. of food was collected as visitors entered the Holiday Market Place.
In the food court, eight food trucks catered to every taste, from Chowder to freshly popped Maplekorn; Cannolis to Gourmet Grilled Cheese, and Supreme hot dogs to brick-oven baked pizzas.
Find out what's happening in The Lymesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In the huge indoor barn, visitors could choose from over 64 artisan vendors, heeding the call of Community Sponsor the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut to Shop Local. Several vendors sold out, with products ranging from artisan jewelry to sweet treats. Outside student ambassadors from The Williams School kept the little ones entertained with crafts and games.
In the Tasting Tent, the teams from Grand Wine & Spirits and Jack Daniels Tennessee Apple spread holiday cheer alongside over 89 wines, craft & imported beers from around the world. Gourmet Galley Catering nailed it, with exquisite small bites perfectly paired with the wines and beers. See the full Market Roundup here.
Find out what's happening in The Lymesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A highlight of the market is the drawing of winners for the High Hopes annual Win-a-Car Help-a-Rider raffle, and this year the lucky winner - Carol Paida Ziolko - drove away in a brand-new Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium from raffle partner Reynolds' Subaru. See more winners.
Many families chose to walk the runway to visit High Hopes' 25 exceptional therapy horses who form the basis of High Hopes' programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors, with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. The Market is one of their biggest friend-raisers, with many visitors seeking more information about volunteering at the farm where a vibrant community of volunteers, staff, and of course horses, seek to improve lives!
