EASTON, Pa. — The Easton Winter Village, a holiday market set up in 40 white sheds around Centre Square, put a bow on its 2024 season Sunday as shoppers braved the cold before it closed for the season.
The Greater Easton Development Partnership established the village in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, giving residents and visitors a way to shop local businesses while staying mostly outdoors.
For the 2024 edition, which opened in late November, vendors included local restaurants, artisans and stores setting up temporary holiday outposts.
Alongside the huts, organizers set up a stage hosting live music; throughout the last month, the village has included events like photos with Santa, many in partnership with nearby businesses.
This year, because of construction in Centre Square, the village’s ice skating rink moved to Third Street.
Attendees braved bitter cold Sunday to do some last-minute holiday shopping.
“The temperature certainly isn't helping us any. But we're doing OK.”Inger Olsen, owner of Token
Though Winter Village offers a chance to browse local vendors, it’s about more than just shopping, said attendee Raven Hnedak, of Saylorsburg.
“For me, it’s the experience, right? it's kind of being out here, enjoying everything, looking around, seeing what you can find,” Hnedak said. “The goal is just to have fun with it.”
Changes this year
The village opened Nov. 23 and continued each weekend through Sunday.
For many vendors, like Kevin Blonski, co-owner of ceramics studio Earthen Goat, the winter market makes up a meaningful portion of the year’s sales.
“I make a majority of my money doing local markets, and this is kind of like a big one for me at the end of the year,” he said. “It's a big chunk of what I make throughout the year.”
Since he doesn’t have a permanent storefront, the Winter Village also offers a place to create a presence in the community, Blonski said.
Several repeat vendors said that while business at the market this year was by no means terrible, they still saw fewer customers and made fewer sales than in years past.
“I don't know if it's the economy, or people are being selective with where they're making their purchases. Or, you know, the village has changed a little bit this year,” said Inger Olsen, owner of Easton-based gift shop Token.
For example, moving the skating rink meant less foot traffic around the main Centre Square market, she said, and fewer food trucks made for a different experience than before.
“The temperature certainly isn't helping us any,” she said. “But we're doing OK.”
Representatives for the Greater Easton Development Partnership did not respond to requests for comment Sunday.
