Tallahassee's oldest church-community outreach event, the annual Market at St. John's Episcopal Church, took place on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Shoppers enjoyed some classy sounds while perusing the many booths full of donated merchandise said the occasion has long been considered an unoffical start for the area's holiday season. Especially now that the pandemic is waning.
"There's such a level of excitement and we see folks picking out that special gift for their loved ones. They talk about what they're going to be doing for the holidays and for us it feels like that kickoff this year was really the same," she commented.
And overall Market Co-Chair Sara Beth Shippen said it's an opportunity for the church to literally practice what it preaches.
"Half of the money raised goes back into the church for our internal missions and ministry. The other half of the money raised goes back into the community in the form of grants that people have applied for."
St. John's, one of the Capital City's original congregations, has been holding the Market on the Saturday before Thanksgiving since the late 1800s.
