The first holiday event of the season is always Holiday House, the Junior League of Little Rock’s premier annual fundraising event. According to the Junior League, over 25 years, Holiday House has collectively raised more than $ 5 million to fund JLLR community priority areas, including Stuff the Bus, Nightingales, PARK, Kota Camp, and Boosters & Big Rigs. Holiday House generates more than 80 percent of all funding for the JLLR.
It may be a fundraiser, but it’s a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts to get a jump on your holiday shopping list. Holiday House also has a wide variety of price ranges, and merchants often offer weekend specials. Many of the merchants are from Arkansas, but Holiday House also brings merchants from all over the country. There are 180 merchants scheduled to be at the event. Holiday House generally attracts more than 14,000 buyers.
As always, Holiday House happens before Thanksgiving. In 2016, it is November 9-12 (9 is the special preview party). You can get some Thanksgiving gifts at the Holiday House though, because some of the vendors sell edible gifts.
Vendors range from grocery items like dips and soup mixes to children’s toys and clothing, home decor, art, clothing, and more. You can usually find Christmas decorations and wrapping paper, but it’s really a bit more than just Christmas supplies. The Junior League tries to find unique providers that you won’t find anywhere else.
I always see one-of-a-kind toys and gifts there that are usually on the “must do” lists the year after they appear on Holiday House. The JLLR really does a good job of gathering new and innovative items for locals to buy.
The event lasts an entire weekend and you can buy weekend passes or day passes. General admission is $ 10 for one day or $ 20 for all three days. Some people like to go during the day, walk around and make a list of what they want to buy on Day 2. The Holiday House is huge, so buy whatever you want when you see it or take notes. You will probably never find what you wanted to buy by heart without going through the full list of merchants again. They have merchant maps, so simply typing in the seller’s name is usually sufficient.
Holiday House hosts several special limited shopping events if you want to avoid the crowds. Preview night is November 9 from 6 pm to 10 pm Tickets for the preview are $ 45 or $ 75 for VIP access. Ladies Night is November 10 from 6 to 9 pm. Admission is limited and there will be Mexican food and drinks. Tickets are $ 30. The morning private shopping event is November 10 from 9 am to 12 pm and is also $ 30.
Santa will be there for the kids on November 12 from 9 am to 12 pm. Will take photos with the children.
You can buy tickets for all events on the Junior League website.
Holiday House is located in the Statehouse Convention Center at 101 E Markham St in downtown Little Rock. You can use the normal parking lot in the center, and the Convention Center has its own parking decks. Parking decks are at 201 Main Street and the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel next door (424 W. Markham Street). Parking covers are $ 2 per hour. There is street parking for free if you don’t mind walking. The event can be quite crowded and the weekend is already a bit crowded at the River Market, so it may make sense to park on the deck.
The Junior League of Little Rock is a women’s organization committed to promoting volunteerism, developing women’s potential, and improving the community through effective action and the leadership of trained volunteers. The Junior League of Little Rock was organized in 1914 as an auxiliary to United Charities, the forerunner of today’s United Way. The group split from United Charities in 1921 to establish its own projects, and in 1922 it joined the Minor League Association.
In 1929, the Junior League of Little Rock was incorporated.
