With its new Holiday Marketplace, the Federated Garden Clubs of Macon Inc. hopes to fill a gap for holiday shoppers.

“There really wasn’t anything like that in Macon anymore; the Junior League used to do something similar,” Neel House coordinator Linda Power said. “We used to have an open house and decorate all the rooms for people to come by and see, but we decided to try something fun and new.”

The market, being held at the Neel House on College Street, will leave all the furnishings of the house intact to showcase the home, both upstairs and down. In addition to local business owners selling items from their shops, the market will include independent vendors of arts and crafts, jewelry, handmade soaps, Pampered Chef, cakes, personalized items and more. The Garden Club’s gift shop also will be open, featuring garden-related goods as well as aluminum serve ware and decorative objects.

“We thought it would be a fun, different way to celebrate the holidays this year, and hopefully it will become an annual event,” Power said.

-- Laura Shirley

Holiday Marketplace

When: Noon-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Neel House, 730 College St.

Cost: Free admission

Phone: 742-0921