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Inside W.T. Brookshire Conference Center, there was a subtle scent of cinnamon and sounds of the holidays echoing as local vendors got ready to set up shop for the Junior League of Tyler’s 45th annual Mistletoe & Magic holiday shopping expo.

“We’re so excited to open the doors and have everybody come in and see what we’ve been working on,” said Nicole Robbins, President of Junior League of Tyler. “I think it’s a great kick off this week with a preview party.”

The Junior League of Tyler, Inc. and the 2023 Mistletoe & Magic committee kicked off their annual holiday shopping expo Wednesday with a Preview Party.

The last two years, the event had been held at the Rose Garden, which limited their vendors. But a brand new conference center in the city allowed an opportunity for the 2023 shopping event to be even bigger than before.

“We’re happy to have something like the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center so that we could add more vendors and shoppers,” Robbins said.

Nearly 70 local vendors have their items and merchandise on display, waiting for the holiday spenders.

“(The Preview Party is) always a fun night because you get all the people… and there is the live band, amazing foods,” said Taylor Paladino, who creates watercolor stationery and art. “This is my third year doing this show… and I think a lot of people have a lot of fun at the preview night party. This is where the customers have the most fun.”

Alyssa Allare, chairperson of Mistletoe & Magic committee, said the fundraiser is JLT’s largest of the year.

“We like to take this opportunity to raise money for several different agencies in Tyler and Smith County,” Allare said.

First-timer Lewis Swann, President and Founder of Sight.org, set up his booth of handbags made by seamstresses in Togo, Africa.

“We run an eye program in West Africa that does eye surgeries and every bag we sell, all proceeds are going to give sight to a blind person in Africa,” he said.

With the proceeds, they’ve been able to do nearly 7,000 surgeries to either correct or restore even the most severe cases of cataracts.

“This year we decided to come to Mistletoe & Magic for the first time just to display the bags and to sell more and give people in Africa the chance to see,” Swann said.

According to Robbins, the League is all about supporting the community and giving back.

“The Junior League of Tyler is a group of women that are committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving our community,” she said. “Last year alone, we gave out over $248,000 to 12 different agencies through our community coordinating hearing.

The league’s purposes are solely educational and charitable.

The task of planning Mistletoe & Magic is a “labor of love.”

“It’s a long process of over a year of planning and organizing and getting everything together,” Allare said.

The committee also hosted a private shopping and Christmas cocktails Thursday evening.

They will host a brunch Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and then a Girls Night Out that evening from 5 to 8 p.m.

“We’re super excited for all our vendors but we’re definitely excited about the things we have planned for the kids,” Allare said.

This Saturday will be a Pop-Up Market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be children activities throughout the day: Breakfast with Santa 9 to 10 a.m.; Haute Totz Children’s Style show starting at 10:15 a.m.; letter writing to Santa and crafts and professional photos with Santa by Elizabeth Thacker Photography. The photos will be available for purchase.

General shopping market hours will be noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.