The Holiday Lantern Market and Bazaar came to Keene State College’s L.P. Young Student Center for the first time on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Angelique Inchierca / photo editor
Around 50 vendors from all over New England set up booths selling different antiques, vintage clothing, repurposed furniture, health and beauty products and holiday gifts.
Proprietress of Vintage Label Co. LLC and Fourth Generation “Picker” Maria Amarosa hosted the event.
She said she was searching out venues for a holiday event when she came across the Student Center.
She said the venue fit just what she was looking for.
“These events are true to my heart but they also are to just bring back what vintage and holiday decor and antiques mean to people… I build a relationship with so many vendors that it made sense to bring an event like this to New Hampshire,” Amarosa said.
By mid afternoon, Amarosa said she was excited by how well the event was running.
“I was sceptical at first because I didn’t know what to expect… But everyone is so supportive and so in awe,” she said. “The students are fabulous and so respectful… I couldn’t ask for much better.”
Amarosa said she would be looking to bring the event back in the upcoming years.
Angelique Inchierca / photo editor
Sarah Stanley works at one of the booths featured at the fair.
Bird Brain Vintage is a vintage clothing boutique based out of Massachusetts.
The booth had everything from vintage t-shirts and sweaters to costume pieces and old trinkets.
Stanley said, “There’s been a lot of foot traffic, a lot of people looking at stuff… My mom really likes to sell to college aged kids because that’s the kind of people who wear the clothes she likes so there’s been really good responses. I think one of the most expensive pieces sold was to a college student.”
Stanley said she liked the venue and that it was very open and welcoming.
KSC Conference and Event Service Manager Misty Kennedy said she is in charge of finding events and renting out spaces to people looking to bridge the gap between the community and the college.
“It’s extremely important [to get students involved in these types of events],” said Kennedy. “One of the largest messages that we gave to Maria and her team, were two things. We needed to make sure that not only would students feel welcome and this might be something that would be of interest to them. But also, it could not impede them if they weren’t.”
Students and staff members did not have to pay the entrance fee to get into the Holiday Lantern Market and Bazaar.
“We are always asking ourselves how do these events benefit the students and the current culture and the community we build,” said Kennedy. “Because we always want to be connecting the mission and vision of Keene State and the student body to what is going on in the community.”
Alyssa Salerno can be contacted at asalerno@kscequinox.com