If the year-end holiday season seems one uninterrupted string of celebrations, then the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants the consumer to navigate the merriment efficiently and benefit local businesses at the same time
The chamber will hold its first-ever Holiday Faire from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Morton Grove Civic Center, 6140 W. Dempster, Morton Grove, offering 22 tables filled with Morton Grove vendors, along with a stage for entertainment. The emphasis is connecting those intending to possess the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve spirit with companies that will help organize holiday parties and events.
Mark Matz, executive director of the chamber, could not yet identify most participating companies. But Julia Si, co-owner of the 45-year-old China Chef restaurant, will be one of the business owners on hand at the Faire with giveaways of her almond and fortune cookies. And the village, park district and public library will be represented at the community table.
“The holidays come around with lightning speed and often many shop for what they need outside of the village,” said Mark Matz, executive director of the chamber of commerce. “We are looking to provide services like gifts and crafts, music, balloons, caterers, party venues, photographers, invitations and holiday cards, flowers and more.”
Since the chamber exists to boost local business, a motivation is to promote the season when many retailers and service providers derive the bulk of their annual revenue.
“Our goal is to provide as many local businesses who rely on the holidays for income a brand new venue and connection to the residents of Morton Grove to display and explain all that they have to offer the public,” said Matz.
“We will have crafts and gifts that can be used for one or many of the big celebrations ahead this year. We are also soliciting prizes for a raffle to make it even more exciting.”
The local focus also targets Holiday Faire attendees.
“Our main audience are the people of Morton Grove (and their families and friends) who are looking to attend an event in the village that will feature all sorts of goods and services for celebrating a holiday,” said Matz, “from Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years and Valentine’s Day…or a special event of their very own.
“Generally speaking, we are looking for adults, but of course kids are welcome too. We are hoping to arrange some musical entertainment from local school districts depending on schedules to add some fun to the day, along with offering refreshments for sale. We do know that some of our vendors may be providing a taste or sample of their cuisine.”
Chamber Board Secretary Rich Block said an attraction of the Faire will be vendors paying a relatively modest fee for their table, but being projected to make the money back with “600 to 800? people coming through.
“We’ll have products you can’t see anywhere else,” he said. “At the Farmer’s Market, we did not allow these kinds of vendors. We’ll have vendors with some unique gift ideas.”
Brides-to-be could also get some ideas and contacts.
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“Weddings can certainly be one of the biggest celebrations around,” said Matz. “So those looking to hold a wedding (along with) anniversary, retirement, graduation, house warming, religious celebrations, etc., could be the very people looking for vendors like men’s and ladies’ formal wear (that can be used for New Year’s and holiday parties), photographers, halls and caterers, music, invitations, etc.”
Si, who also is vice president of the chamber, will not be able to provide samples of China Chef’s hot Asian food staples since the majority of the Faire is in the morning. But she will have gift certificates and catering menus for distribution along with her cookies.
“I think this event will be a good introduction to see what’s out there,” said Si. “People will see services they can use.”
China Chef opened behind Kappy’s in 1977 and moved to its present Lincoln Avenue location in 1986. The restaurant is one of the few businesses open on Christmas Day.
The Faire takes place just two days before Halloween.
“We didn’t want to compete with the Farmers Market, which ends on Oct. 15,” said Matz. “Also, the bulk of the holiday season really gets started right after Halloween. Just check out a local store on Nov. 1 to see the almost overnight transformation from one holiday until the big holiday season.”