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2011 Holiday Food and Gift Festival

Who needs “Black Friday” when you have the Holiday Food and Gift Festival? Here at the Colorado Convention Center, we got our sleep on Thanksgiving evening.

The Holiday Food and Gift Festival was here for its 25th annual show the weekend before “Black Friday”. The attendance of the show floor reflected that of shoppers on Black Friday just not as hectic. There was no pushing and shoving because there was plenty of merchandise to look at and buy.

This festival is the largest holiday celebration in the Midwest drawing some 30,000 attendees annually. With over 500 exhibitors the festival provided shoppers with one-of-a-kind gifts that cannot be found anywhere else. Featuring art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, wood, music, photography, toys, Christmas décor, and much more makes this a gift buyers delight. There was a large gourmet food area where you could sample and purchase a wide range of food items including toffee, tea, chocolates, pasta, soups, dips, meats, coffee, jams, shortbread, chili, sauces and many more delights!

Attendees were carrying around bags and bags of items, besides the ones that purchased the nifty shopping bag on wheels, with so much and so many different things to look at it was hard to resist the urge to not buy. One attendee said there were lots of different things to see and that she enjoys the show because of that reason and that she will be back next year. Exhibitor, Carol with Outreach Uganda, said she was at the show last year and it was a success. Her booth is inviting with its unique products and giraffe that gives away candy.  Santa was there too taking pictures and listening to what people wanted this Christmas.

If you have never been to the Holiday Food and Gift Festival before it is a place you will have to go next year to kick off your holiday shopping and maybe you can skip Black Friday. Stay connected to find out 2012’s dates.