How to Shop Local and Win Christmas: The Moonbow Christmas Fair 2021

The Moonbow Christmas Fair will take place at 2nd & Main in Corbin on Sunday, November 21st from 1pm to 5pm. It includes artists like Bradford Harris, holding one of his handmade banjos, and Bob Howard, whose paintings are hanging in the background.

After taking a hiatus in 2020, we are thrilled to bring the Moonbow Christmas Fair back to Corbin for 2021! Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 21st, from 1pm to 5pm. This annual event takes place indoors, in the historic J.C. Penney Building that is now 2nd & Main. This also means it is right in the heart of Downtown Corbin during the annual Christmas Open House. In our cozy space we will have some of the very best artists, artisans, and makers who have been selected from across the region. And just outside our doors, Downtown Corbin will be full of festivities, from local vendors to rides for children. And, of course, there will be a chance to meet Santa and get your picture taken!

Santa will be hanging out in Corbin on Sunday!

The Moonbow Christmas Fair is born from a passion to bring some of our incredibly talented artists in the region to an accessible venue and a wider audience. We could not be more excited with the lineup for this year, which includes everything from banjos handmade by a young punk rocker from Harlan to fine leather goods made in Laurel County. We will have everything from beautiful original paintings to hilarious stickers and prints, along with t-shirts, candles, bath & body products, decorative home goods, and baked goodies. We will also have Moonbow at 2nd & Main open, with a selection of some of our most favorite goodies (we know you need some possum socks). Whatever you love, and whoever you are shopping for, and whatever your budget, you should find perfects gifts at the Moonbow Christmas Fair.

With no further ado, allow me to introduce you to some of our vendors:

Little Bubby Child

Little Bubby Child is a new and rising star in the Appalachian Art Scene. Originally from Floyd County, this artist captures the hilarious beauty of mountain life and was instantly popular. Expect prints that feature Mamaw drinking beer, plenty of mullets, and possums posing glamorously, reminding us to “hiss, laugh, love.”

Hill & Holler

There are plenty of t-shirt and graphic designers out there, but Hill & Holler, out of Cumberland, stands out. Designs are hand-drawn, giving shirts a unique and authentic look that speaks to local experience. Their retail location is always hopping, and they are a favorite at festivals around the region. I also love to snap up their stickers and hats.  

Bob Howard Art

A former miner turned art teacher, Bob Howard is one of the most beloved artists in Harlan, and you may recognize his paintings at Moonbow Tipple Coffee & Sweets. I personally have three of his paintings hanging in my home. His artwork is not only beautiful but affordable. If you never imagined you could afford an original piece of art as a gift, you may be surprised.

Sassy Trash

Unique upcycled creations are the specialty of Sassy Trash, which operates as a brick-and-mortar retail location on Main Street in Harlan. You will be amazed by the ingenious ways they take antique items and turn them into beautiful and useful home objects. They are my go-to for seasonal decorations that are completely unique.

The Suds Barn

We are so excited to add The Suds Barn to the Moonbow Christmas Fair this year! They have recently opened the doors on a retail location in downtown Williamsburg where they concoct amazing bath and body products as well as candles. These are the perfect items to pick up for teachers and coworkers. They use premium ingredients and beautiful packaging for a great product.

B.E. Leathercraft

Handstitched, hand-stamped leather items are always a classic gift. We adore B.E. Leathercraft, out of Keavy, for their beautiful and timeless designs that are perfectly executed. They are a longtime favorite at Moonbow, and have recently expanded into newer designs and products. You will definitely want to check out their distressed trucker hats with leather patches in the shape of Kentucky, as well as their keychains.

Appalachian Mountain Books

If you haven’t seen the mobile bookstand for Appalachian Mountain Books, you are in for a treat! Specializing in local literature, the bookseller, George Brosi, offers a selection of new and used titles. You are sure to find some new treasure to read or to gift. Plus, George is my father!

Velvet Whiskey Candle Company

Velvet Whiskey Candle Company is where Appalachia meets fierce female entrepreneurship. Their beautiful soy candles and wax melts are sold in every state and shipped all over the world, and you will understand why as soon as you pick up their product. In fact, their candles are our single best selling category in our Moonbow locations.

Bradford’s Banjos

A new addition to the Moonbow Christmas Fair is Bradford Harris with his hand-crafted banjos. Bradford is from Harlan and is known for leading punk bands and organizing punk events. At the same time, he decided to learn how to make traditional banjoes with his father. He creates beautiful instruments that would be a seriously cool gift with an incredible story behind it. Young punk banjo maker from Harlan? You know we love busting stereotypes!

The Gypsy Forge

Premium metal-crafted jewelry is the specialty of The Gypsy Forge, out of Hazard. These handmade pieces are created from upcycled metal scraps. Each captures the organic shapes of our Appalachian Mountains. With beautiful packaging, a necklace or earrings from The Gypsy Forge make a very special gift. I have a pair of her earring that I adore and wear all the time.

Thistle Design Co.

Coming from Barbourville, Thistle Design Co. paints beautiful ornaments. Each ornament is its own unique mini painting, completed on a slice of wood or other organic material. Led by an up-and-coming young woman, her designs are always on pulse with current culture. If you didn’t already know, nerdy Appalachians are a thing, and you will be sure to find something for your favorite one at her booth.

Acres of Grace Farm

This business is a double threat: Lisa Bourque, located in Clay County, is known for her adorable handmade items as well as her delicious baked goods. Her painted items are a huge hit at the Kentucky Artisan Center, and she regularly gets orders for over 100 of her garden stones. For the Fair, she is bringing some hand painted ornaments and fun items, as well as a menu of baked goodies. We are excited for Christmas Cranberry Cinnamon rolls, as well as her famous Sorghum Citrus Cookies.

We may still have some artists to add to the list, but as you can tell, we already have a well-rounded slate of makers. This is a one-stop chance to buy amazing gifts while supporting local artists. And doesn’t that feel more important now than ever before? We already knew that getting cheap items shipped from overseas put a strain on our planet, but now we have cargo ships circulating around harbors, unable to unload. We have entered into an era of super rich billionaires, who pay less in taxes than these artist and small business owners, and are allowed to wield great power without any balance. If there is anything I would love to do this holiday season, it is to help real people make money over Jeff Bezos, the hundred-billionaire owner of Amazon. The guy is so wealthy that he makes more money in 10 seconds than the average Amazon employee makes in a year, and yet pays less taxes. He is not the one building our roads or funding our schools or putting money into the coffers of social security. I know this, yet I turn to Amazon and Walmart myself. When I fail it is because it is just so hard to find what I need otherwise.

Here we have a chance to step away from this madness and into the glow of the Christmas spirit. We can be the downtown shoppers, smiling at our neighbors and finding the beauty in the simple and handmade. At the heart of the Christmas story is a very humble birth, surrounded by farmers and their animals. It was from this simplicity that came great love and great peace, and that is what I will be seeking this holiday. Truly, it makes me feel good to stand amongst talented makers, meet the people who made the gift, and give them my support. I hope you will join me!

Get to Know Us

Sky and Geoff Marietta live in Appalachian Kentucky and are passionate about promoting rural America. They are the authors of Rural Education in America: What Works for Our Students, Teachers, and Communities published by Harvard Education Publishing Group.

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