Country Christmas Store pops up in Ridgeville apple barn
With the smell of cider wafting through the air inside an old Ridgeville apple barn and the gentle sound of yuletide music coming through the speakers, the Country Christmas Store does the best it can to live up to its name.
The pop-up shop run by former grower Sydney Beamer is a rural destination with two floors of handmade clothing, jewelry and arts and crafts, as well as culinary offerings such as jams and spreads and meals in a jar.
While people who’ve made their way to the Centre Street shop before will find much that is familiar, there’s also an attempt to keeps things fresh.
Beamer, who personally selected each vendor, scouring shows across Niagara and much of Ontario to find just the right mix, said she tries to find the right balance between crowd favourites and those offering something unique.
The market again features a café, the Lunch Box, which offers soup, sandwiches and other refreshments in a seating area. While they snack, visitors can view the artwork for sale hanging on the wall. All tips from the Lunch Box will be donated to Wellspring Niagara, which offers supportive care programs for cancer patients, their families and their caregivers.
The Country Christmas market is at 1794 Centre St., Pelham, and features dozens of vendors. It’s open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Dec. 16 and daily after that until Saturday, Dec. 22. For more information, call 905-892-5359 or visit www.thechristmasstore.com.