HUTTO – Last weekend, families lined up to throw snowballs, ride a train, talk to Santa and of course, shop at the Hutto Downtown Christmas Fair.
On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Downtown Christmas Fair featured 85 artisan and craft vendors. Downtown stores and restaurants were also opened to welcome the estimated 5,000 attendees in what is part of the city’s Holidays in Hutto event series.
“Many of the vendors we spoke with said it was their best year ever at this event both in terms of sales and attendance,” said Allison Strupeck, Director of Communications. “The Downtown Hutto businesses told us the same. Sales exceeded everyone’s goals – on top of the genuine holiday spirit in the air. Everyone seemed genuinely thrilled not only to have the Fair back post-pandemic, but also to have it back in Downtown Hutto.”
A highlight of the event was a play area featuring real snow. Although not traveling from quite as far away as the North Pole, the 50,000 pounds of Christmas snow was made from nearly 2,000 bags of ice that arrived on an 18-wheeler rather than a sleigh. With temperatures in the 70s, the snow did what snow does and eventually melted into puddles causing the snow area to close around noon.
Margie Baca lives in Round Rock but said she marks the Hutto Christmas Fair on her calendar every year.
“It’s just a great vibe here. Lots of different types of booths. We always find something,” she said.
Families explored not only the artisan booths, but also the established shops along East and Farley streets. Misty Faglie, owner of Hutto Flower Market and Boutique at 117 East St., thought the fair was successful.
“It was great, a lot of fun and a lot of exposure. We made a good amount of sales,” she said.
Downtown restaurants seemed to do well also. The Texan Cafe and Pie Shop at 207 East St. was full of hungry fairgoers. Blake Webb, general manager and executive chef at the cafe said business was good during the event.
“We were pretty busy. I just had my head down working all day,” he said. “It was truly an all-hands on deck effort for the city of Hutto to ensure the public had a festive day,” Strupeck added.
