More than 500 turn out for annual Holly Days

Published 12:06 pm Thursday, December 12, 2019

: More than 500 shoppers turned out Saturday for the 12th annual Holly Days at Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation in 2019. (Terri Cowart Frazier/The Vicksburg Post)

The Southern Cultural Heritage Auditorium was in full Christmas mode Saturday during the 12th annual Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show.

From jewelry to locally-grown honey, more than 500 shoppers had the opportunity to enjoy the wares of 24 vendors.

“This year we had some new vendors,” Southern Cultural Heritage Center executive director Stacey Mahoney said. “Everyone who came out seemed to be having a good time.”

During the craft show, local talent also performed.

“We have so much talent in our community and this gives them a chance to perform on a stage,” she said.

Those performing included the Church of the Holy Trinity Conservatory of Fine Arts students, Jeanne Evans’s music students, Denise Ragsdale’s music students, Debra Franco Preparatory School of Dance students, the St. Aloysius Show Choir and the Elite 6 Band.

“I heard positive feedback from the vendors, the parents and the performers,” Mahoney said. “I think it (the entertainment) gets everyone in the Christmas Spirit.”

Billy’s Italian Restaurant was on-site during the event selling spaghetti and meatball lunches as well as chicken salad hoagies. The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation Board was also selling sweets, popcorn, hot cider and hot chocolate.

Mahoney said proceeds from the annual event go towards the SCHF general budget.

The SCHF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the diverse cultural heritage of Vicksburg, the Mississippi Delta and the American South. The Foundation works to achieve its goals by creating and hosting cultural activities at the SCH Complex, located at 1302 Adams St.

For more information about the SCHF and a listing of offerings and events, visit southernculture.org.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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