Planning committee members

Planning committee members

The theme is a Southern Christmas, y’all, at the 36th annual Chi Omega Christmas Market, and — bless your heart — all the fun is fixin’ to be here!

Based in Preston Hollow, the Chi O Christmas is now in its second year at Fair Park’s Centennial Hall, attracting 10,000 shoppers each year. More than 180 merchants, cherry-picked from applicants all over the country, brings jewelry, toys, home décor, holiday decorations, art, linens, fashion, food and much more.

This year’s charity shopping event begins Wednesday night with a preview party, featuring entertainment by Eleven Hundred Springs and the chance to chit-chat with guest emcee, Shelly Slater from WFAA-TV. (When the delightful Shelly hosted last year, she brought along her Chi Omega sister and accomplished some serious shopping between posing for pics and conversing with guests.)

Chairmen Ashley Chapel and Beth Arnold have been working with their committee all year, waiting for this week

Chairmen Ashley Chapel and Beth Arnold have been working all year, waiting for this week

Tickets for the 7-10 p.m. party are $75 and include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, plus readmission throughout the show.

If you consider shopping a competitive sport, the First Call ticket is for you. It allows admission Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. (before the masses), and you’ll get readmission throughout the event if you decide you DO want that great necklace or you want to return with friends. Discount tickets are $20 from Chi Omegas or neighborhood Tom Thumb stores or $25 at the door.

General admission shopping will be held Thursday 1-9 p.m., Friday 10-6 and Saturday 10-5, and those tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Parking is $10 (enter at Gate 2 for plentiful spots closest to the door), and you can valet for an additional $10.

Proceeds from ticket sales, booth fees and donations go to beneficiaries, including: Community Partners of Dallas, Foundation for the Education of Young Women, Healing Hands Ministries, Just Say YES, Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas, North Texas Food Bank, Sky Ranch TRU Camps, Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, Chi Omega Collegiate Scholarships and Chi Omega Educational Foundation.

logoYou can learn more at the Chi Omega Christmas Market website here.