50 vendors expected; produce, jams, wreaths, other gift items
SOMERS POINT — Organizer Will Boyer said he wants there to be something for everyone under the tree during the annual Christmas Mart hosted by The Patriots for Somers Mansion from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 on the grounds of the historic home.
Local vendors will be selling their wares just in time for holiday shopping and musician Beth Tinnon will entertain the crowd throughout the day.
Boyer, who organizes the summer farmers markets with Rob Hopkins, runs the Christmas Mart for the Patriots, whose mission is to raise awareness and funds for restoration of the 1723 building.
He said he has about 50 vendors, up from about 40 last year, a mix of farmers market vendors selling late-season produce, homemade jams and kimchi to baked goods “ranging from sweet and decadent to savory.” There also will be a truck serving gourmet coffees and hot chocolate.
Essel’s Dugout, a popular breakfast joint in West Atlantic City, will have its food truck serving clam chowder in a bread bowl, Italian roast pork sandwiches with imported provolone cheese, broccoli rabe and imported long hots, and other dishes.
Boyer said he took over the event last year but had little time to do anything but make sure it happened on time. This year he said he focused on adding vendors selling smaller, less expensive items.
“We will have everything from handmade ornaments to fresh-cut green wreaths and a little bit of everything in between. I tried to curate a broad spectrum of vendors,” Boyer said.
In addition to the vendors and food, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be strolling the grounds to pose for free photos. He also will welcome children onto his lap to share their wish lists.
There will be two other photo spots as well, Boyer said, a miniature hot cocoa stand for children and a 12-foot-tall tree-mounted Grinch with its head poking out of one side and a hand holding a 7-foot ornament on the other.
Donna Mohr of the Patriots said the event is profitable for the group in many ways.
She said the group is thrilled to have lots of people in the mansion, which is a state historic site.
“The most amazing thing is, the first year 500 people were in the mansion,” she said. “It was amazing how many, not just local Somers Point people, but close area people said they didn’t even know it was here or knew it was here and never went in it.”
She said there are so many people that they have to limit the number of guests inside.
“The building is 300 years old, so we have to be careful,” she said, adding “it’s a wonderful problem to have.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff