Last night’s Shopping by Lantern Light event, hosted by the Statesboro Farmers Market, attracted one of its largest crowds yet. This annual tradition, beloved by locals and visitors alike, continues to grow in popularity each year, with this year’s event featuring 88 vendors, including seasoned market regulars and special one-night-only pop-ups.
Willow Farmer, the Marketing Manager for the market, shared with Grice Connect, “Planning an event like Lantern Light is like a really challenging, but rewarding, Sudoku puzzle or Tetris game. It’s all about considering each possibility, strategically aligning all of the moving parts, and timing things just right. Marketing is a whole other beast, which I have to credit Murphy McRae for! She’s the powerhouse behind the Visit Statesboro’s strategic marketing campaigns, and it really shows!”
From local farmers to talented artisans, the lantern-lit night market offered a little something for everyone. Strolling through the glowing aisles, attendees could find an impressive variety of goods, each direction overflowing with unique creativity and charm.
The food, of course, remains one of the most anticipated aspects of Shop by Lantern Light. Local favorites like Cork’s Kettle Cooked Popcorn, Three Tree Coffee Roasters, and Sugar Magnolia drew eager crowds. Hunter Cattle surprised attendees with fresh BBQ sandwiches and steaming hot stew, while Rubber Duck Coffee sold bagged coffee beans and made-to-order drinks.
Julie G., newer to Statesboro, explored the market with her husband. “We enjoy shopping at this event while munching on fresh kettle corn from Cork’s! We picked up rolls from the Mack Farm stand and found some toys for our dog at the Humane Society booth. It’s great to see so many people from the community in the holiday spirit!”
Festive Traditions and New Memories
Held annually on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Shopping by Lantern Light has become a cherished tradition for many families. Whether shopping for the holidays or spending quality time together, attendees find plenty of opportunities to create lasting memories.
This year, Visit Statesboro! welcomed children to meet FourPoints Santa, with kids lining up to share their Christmas wishes. Even Grice Connect’s editor’s family joined the fun, posing for a festive photo with Old Saint Nick.
Nearby, a stunning holiday display featured 56 miniature villages assembled by Brent and Kelly Tharp with pieces donated by Frank and Marsha Parker. The intricate setup added an extra touch of “winter wonder” to the evening.
Behind the Magic
Events like Shopping by Lantern Light require careful planning and dedication, and this year’s effort truly paid off. Despite being the largest Lantern Light event to date, it was also the smoothest. The team spent the week prior mapping out the facility, marking vendor spaces to ensure optimal traffic flow and visibility for all. For the first time, a “Prep Day” was introduced, allowing vendors to drop off supplies and stage their setups on Monday, ahead of the event.
This year, Grice Connect’s own Kelsie Cobb assisted with the preparations. “I could see how much Willow, Michelle, and Terry cared about making this seamless for both vendors and attendees,” Kelsie shared. “They’ve done an incredible job, alongside Murphy from Visit Statesboro!, with promoting vendors and spreading the word on social media. I’m just happy to experience it with them.”
“We also had a record turnout of volunteers from our partnership with Willingway! We could not have done this so successfully without them,” Farmer added.
A Virtual Tour
Farmer continued, “What a magnificent community to be a part of. And I’m not saying that as the market manager, but as a community member. I have made some of my most cherished lifelong friends and chosen family through this market, and it warms my heart knowing it’s a palace for so many others to do the same.”
If you missed this year’s event or want to relive the magic, check out Grice Connect’s live stream, where DeWayne and Lori Grice, guided by Willow, took viewers on a tour through the lantern-lit market.
Shopping by Lantern Light marks the end of the farmer’s market season until Spring 2025. Locals can continue to shop the Statesboro Farmers Market2Go online year-round.
