Cookeville’s Mistletoe Market Opens The Holiday Season Friday

If this week’s cooler weather and the passing of Halloween has you thinking about the holidays, Mistletoe Market will open at Leslie Town Center Friday.

Some 50 local vendors will be showcasing wares this weekend. Director Kathryn Molina said admission fees for the event award quarterly endowments to local non-profits annually.

“It’s just pretty awesome to see them all come together, people in the community come together to these fundraisers to help support all of the non-profits,” Molina said. “I think Covid really hurt them and we’re just trying to get them all back on their feet and going again.”

Molina said this is the 20th year for the market. Molina said many businesses on Cookeville’s West Side will be holding holiday open houses alongside the market.

“Not only can you come shop all 50 local vendors at our facility, but then you can take a stroll through the downtown west side and visit all of the boutiques because they’re all going to be kind of participating in their own way,” Molina said.

Your admission will help local non-profits. Molina said Algood Middle School will receive $500 for the first quarter of 2024. The event has funded nonprofits like The Stephens Center, the CRMC Foundation, and the Cookeville Pregnancy Center.

For the first time, the market will have the “Wow Bus” on the premises. Molina said the Wow Bus will allow any children in attendance to choose three books to take home with them for free.

“I think it’s going to be a great time to come down,” Molina said. “You’ve got Tech Homecoming, you’ve got our shopping, you’ve got all of the open houses. I think we’re just going to tie in as a big community event, so I think this weekend is going to be really fun for everyone.”

Mistletoe Market will also include a rotation of local food trucks for the first time.