The interior of the building that served as the setting for the political rally in the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou” was transformed into a market place Saturday featuring arts, crafts and seasonal items.

Vendors from Vicksburg and other southern cities filled the Southern Heritage Cultural Center auditorium Saturday for the 12th Holly Days, featuring gifts, goodies and music and dance for the visitors touring the booths on the floor.

“All of our spaces are filled, we have a beautiful day and we have a lot of people coming to see the vendors,” said SCHC executive director Stacy Mahoney. She said later 700 people attended the event.

Visitors could sit and listen to and watch live performances from area singers and dancers, enjoy a lunch of spaghetti or chicken salad from Billy’s restaurant, or examine the variety of crafts from ceramics to wood carving and woodwork.

“We like to support the local businesses. I enjoy supporting the organizations like Jacob’s Ladder because of the work they do,” said Carrie Callender, who with Debbie Fuller were touring the booths and meeting friends.

“We love coming here and spending our money with local merchants,” Fuller added.

Besides the booths of jewelry and clothing, there were several booths displaying interesting items that received the attention of passersby.

Freddie Hager’s booth, “Left Brain Creations by Freddie,” featured etched glass mugs and glasses. She said this was her second trip to Holly Days, adding she has been doing etched glass for five years.

Business, she said, has been good. “I’ve received several orders for special glasses,” she said.

On the opposite side of the auditorium, Jesse Harris of Little Rock, Arkansas, was selling his Simple Sassy Suppers, packaged ingredients (“everything except what we can’t pack”) to make soups, dips, chilies and cakes with the addition of ingredients like, meat or milk.

“I’ve been coming here six or seven years,” he said. “I always enjoy it.”

Denise Ragsdale, who was involved with the entertainment for Holy Days, was doing some shopping while she waited for her dancers to perform.

“I love coming here and seeing the local merchants,” she said. “Everybody comes here and has a good time, and it’s a treat. It’s a great time.”