Wickham Works Holiday Maker Market enjoys excellent turnout at Lewis Park

They’re on the move.

Four years ago the Town of Warwick had completely renovated its event facility, the Quality of Life Building, created by correction officers when it operated as the former Mid Orange Correctional facility, and renamed it “Wickham Woodlands Manor.”

That year a month-long “Made Local” initiative kicked off with the Wickham Works’ Holiday Maker Market at Wickham Woodlands Manor.

The local artisans returned to Wickham Woodlands the following year and in the next two years, held the event inside at the Warwick Valley Community Center.

“This year,” said Melissa Shaw-Smith, creative director at Wickham Works, “we had to hold the Love Local Wickham Works Holiday Maker Market outdoors. And Lewis Park was a perfect location for our annual event.”

This year’s Holiday Maker Market was held on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27-28.

That Saturday also happened to be “Small Business Saturday,” which, along with good weather, helped bring out a large number of visitors.

All shoppers, however, were required to wear masks and keep safe distance.

The Thanksgiving Weekend event featured 20 vendors with hand-crafted holiday gift items including clothing, body care products, jewelry, blown glass ornaments, metal arts, leather and turned wooden goods, ceramics, holiday decorations and fresh wreaths, art made from reclaimed materials and more.

A $3 entry fee was collected to help support the Warwick Historical Society and the Warwick Valley Community Center..

“We thank everyone,” said Smith, “who joined us this weekend to support our local artists and artisans and the non-profit organizations the Warwick Historical Society, Wickham Works and the Warwick Valley Community Center.”