Editor’s Note: This is one of multiple stories in ETX View’s 2025 November/December Holiday issue that published Nov. 15. To read more stories and view the full digital edition, visit our ETX View homepage.
East Texas offers many ways for shoppers to get out of big box stores and into unique shopping experiences for the holidays.
Tyler
In Tyler, location is key to a unique shopping event that will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at the historic Bergfeld Center on 8th Street.
The annual Holiday Open House is a tradition that retailers in that area town organize themselves.
Village Bakery in Tyler sells pies, pastries, cookies, potato rolls and more.
“The fact that (Bergfield Center) has been there over 75 years” makes shopping there unique, said Bergfeld president Brad Bergfeld.
“A lot of people kind of grew up doing their holiday shopping there,” he said.
Bergfeld maintains a “local feel,” he said, with businesses that care about the community. During the event, 8th Street will be closed to traffic so shoppers can easily move from shop to shop.
Sharon Wynne owns House of Wynne in Bergfeld Center, which she describes as an “updated antique mall,” featuring antiques, new home decor, jewelry, art and gifts.
“A lot of our customers, that’s when they start their Christmas shopping — that evening,” Wynne said.
Most of the stores will have something special going on that night, with Wynne noting that new stores such as the Village Creamery and Gotta Graze, a charcuterie business, will be open. Shoppers will also find a jewelry store, wine bar, Mita Artisan Shoppe, Tyler Balloon Bar and Allie & Thea, featuring clothing for tween girls and their mothers. The Village Bakery also has been in business for 75 years in Bergfeld Center.
“It’s just a lot of unique, locally owned businesses,” Wynne said. “We try to support shopping locally because it helps our community in so many ways.”
Longview
Local shopping opportunities also support local businesses and artists.
The Longview Museum of Fine Arts’ Holiday Tea Room and Market is one way patrons can support the community while finding unique gifts for those on their list.
“It has been a community favorite for them to have their holiday office party, luncheon or girls parties,” at the Holiday Tear Room and Market, said Tiffany Jehorek, the art museum’s executive director.
This year’s event is Dec. 9-12. Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. each day, with food prepared by Perfect Catering. The market will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Jehorek said the market features artists who bring handmade jewelry, pottery, vases and scarves, for instance.
Christmas tree ornaments on display at the Christmas Market Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal Photo)
“They keep coming back,” Jehorek said of the vendors. “I think they do pretty well.”
Other groups in the community help by decorating tables for the event.
“Everything is so festive. You can come in and it’s a nice kick-off to the holiday.”
The museum’s market also will remain open during the annual Holiday Artwalk, 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 11, in downtown Longview. The quarterly event typically attracts some 150 artists.
Christina Cavazos, executive director of Arts! Longview, said the event adheres to strict requirements that participating vendors are creating what they sell.
And it’s not just art, she said. It’s all local artists who are creating visual arts such as photography and paintings, but it’s also culinary artists, people making and selling wreaths, jewelry and plushies. The Holiday Art Walk typically attracts vendors selling holiday related jewelry and home decor.
“It’s very diverse. It’s all handmade,” Cavazos said.
“It’s not going to be anything you find at a big box retailer,” she added.
The Holiday Art Walk will typically include vendors selling holiday-themed items.
“It’s a great place to shop for holiday gifts,” Cavazos said, adding that shoppers will find unique items they won’t find elsewhere.
At the same time, shopping during ArtWalk supports the local “creative community,” she said.
Downtown retailers typically also stay open for ArtWalk, providing other opportunities to find gifts and support local businesses.
A new project by Longview’s Main Street program will shed more light on the downtown shopping experience. New bistro-style lighting has been added along Tyler Street, featuring bulbs on string lights.
“I think it’s going to be a real benefit to our artists,” Cavazos said.
Door prize winners are announced outside of Kilgore Merchantile and Music during Downtown Kilgore’s Mingle and Jingle Saturday, November 28, 2020. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)
Kilgore
Kilgore’s Mingle and Jingle event is an annual tradition that allows shoppers to check off a few seasonal goals. First, they can support local businesses. Second, they can buy one-of-a-kind, thoughtful gifts for everyone on their list. Lastly, they can enjoy a night out in one of East Texas’ most beautiful historic downtown areas.
The event, set for 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 29 in downtown Kilgore, will let locals get an early start on Christmas shopping while discovering “the many surprises downtown Kilgore has to offer,” according to Visit Kilgore.
“Browse a collection of jewelry and one-of-a-kind gifts for all ages at The Shops on Main, vintage-style clothing at Everything that Blings, or stylish women’s apparel at De Rigueur throughout the evening, when all the stores stay open for after-hours shopping,” Visit Kilgore says. “Admire the illuminated stars atop the oil derricks, and start your holiday season in style right here in Kilgore.”