This weekend marks the 24th annual Stocked Market hosted by the Junior League of the Roanoke Valley.

The event, held at the Roanoke Civic Center’s Special Events Center, is a yearly gathering of local and national vendors that unofficially kicks off the holiday shopping season in the Roanoke area.

I attended the Stocked Market for the first time last year. To be honest, I went in with pretty low expectations. What made this vendor show different from the others? But I walked out impressed and with a few shopping bags.

So, what does make this show different? The local vendors.

Of the 125 participants this year, about 30 are locally owned and operated. Popular businesses, such as Anne Vaughan Designs, Christy’s Apparel and Accessories, and Chocolatepaper, have booths full of products.

“Some shops even get new merchandise and save it to be debuted at the Stocked Market,” said Ginger Poole Avis, a Junior League member and co-chairwoman of the event with Ashley Feuerstein.

Add to that the fact that some shops offer special discounts or bargains during the three-day event.

On one of the days I attended last year, my mother purchased a rarely discounted Hobo wallet on sale at the Gone Coco booth. Other vendors offer discounts and incentives for buying multiple products.

If you’re looking to get pampered, the event has that covered, too. This year Polished by Claire V., Pure Spa and Spa La La will be offering select services on site.

Feuerstein explained that the show often gives the retailers a boost in their holiday sales. It has been so successful for The Gift Niche, for example, that the business has upsized its booth to the largest available.

Of course, there are also plenty of nationally recognized vendors with their own deals at the show, including Thirty-One Gifts, Tastefully Simple and Miche Bag.

“Our show is a different class of vendors. The booths are very holiday inspired and these merchants really put a lot of effort into the show,” said Feuerstein.

Santa will be making a stop again this year, landing by helicopter at 10 this morning. He will also be available for photos throughout the event.

“There’s something for everyone, we really get the family involved,” Avis said. “We’ve got generations of girls who come together. It’s really got a following.”

Though the event does cost more to get into than some other craft or vendor shows ($9 at the door, good all weekend, though children 12 and under are free), the proceeds benefit multiple local community organizations, including Ronald McDonald House, the Rescue Mission of Roanoke, CHIP of the Roanoke Valley, Roanoke Area Ministries, DePaul Community Resources and more.

Avis said that over its history, the Stocked Market has raised and given back more than $2 million to the community.

If you’re interested in attending, the remaining hours for this year’s event are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www.jlrv.org.

The full list of vendors includes:

Junior League / Information
JLRV Information and Cookbook – 100
Community Partner – 309
Community Partner – 409
Community Partner – 509
Community Partner – 709
Community Partner – 806
Children’s Clothing / Gifts
LindseyBoo Creations – 512
Simply Fun – 617
Southwest VA Ballet – 705
The Princess Place – 102
Food
Auntie Faye Spratt – 314
Bethany Hall – 302
Buckeye Chocolate Company – 411
Cherchies Specialty Foods – 101
Frontier Soups – 215
Herb works Oil and Vinegar – 205
Mama Lee’s Gourmet Foods – 808
Nectar of the Vine – 1009
Oil and Vinegar – 413
Rand Hill Inc/Darby Creek – 508
Snookie Snookerwitz – 201
Sweet Memories – 312
Tastefully Simple – 612
Why Not Indulge – 1005
Holiday / Seasonal
Print Marks – 604
The Gift Niche – 212
Home Interiors / Gifts
Artist – Sandra K Brunk – 207
Bath Fitter – 108
Clever Container – 612
Colonial Home Products – 606
Colonial Home Products – 206
Creative Solutions – 311
High Noon Textiles – 603
My Pillow Inc – 304
Occasionally Made – 707
Sassy Pads – 103
Scentsy Wickless Candles – 708
Silver Monkey – 308
Smith Mountain Promotional Designs – 809
Southern Distributors – 714
Stripes & Polka Dots – 1008
The Cottage Gate – 514
Two and a Half Sisters – 510
Whispering Willow Soap Co – 701
Willow Grove Gifts – 306
Wind Designs/The Flag Shop – 106
Jewelry
Accent Silver – 315
Ambage Jewelry Selections by Susan – 109
Anne Vaughan Designs – 605
B Cool Shop – 105
Button Jewelry – 602
Crystals of Hope – 609
Deco Jewelry – 1004
Dizzy Blondes Jewelry – 805
Etchings Inc – 711
Hofmann Designs – 313
J&K Enterprises – 209
Jewelry with Charm – 610
Juliette’s Jewelry – 503
Origami Owl Custom Jewelry – 612
Paparazzi By Brooke – 702
Rainbow Collections – 1001
Shiny Stuff – 704
Silpada Designs Jewelry – 310
Simply Silver of Virginia – 407
Turkam – Silver Joy – 1002
Upcycled Gifts – 801
Men’s Clothing / Gifts
OrigAudio – 402
Specialty
A little bit Hippy – 807
B. Invited – 208
Beco Ball – 1003
By Appointment Only – 608
C & S Enterprises – 405
Ceramica De Espana – 712
Chocolate Paper – 501
Clear Channel – 811
Cox – 810
Cruise One – 611
Cutco Cutlery – 618
Duncan – 812
Elite Cosmetics – 406
Ferguson – 1007
Gi Gi Enterprises – 507
It Works Global – 511
Kids Stop – 802
Lip Sense – 1006
Massaging Insoles – 305
Nerium International – 408
Ovations – 607
Pacabella – 403
Paw Paws – 703
Phoenix Trading – 804
Polished by Claire V – 303
Pure Spa & Spa La La- 513
Pursonal Hangups – 211
Roanoke Times – 301
Roanoke Valley SPCA – 710
Sock Drawer and More – 210
The Pampered Chef – 505
The Salvation Army – 104
The Woodrow Instrument Co – 615
Third Stone – 713
Thirty-One Gifts – 803
Tomboy Tools – 203
Touch of Purple – 601
Usborne Books – 404
WDBJ 7 – 1010
WOW Organizing Service – 612
Yoga Matty – 614
Your Imagination is the Only Limit – 307
Women’s Clothing / Gifts
Amore dei Cani – 616
Buckled to Go – 504
Cashmere Elegance – 502
Christine Collections – 316
Christy’s Apparel & Assessories – 213
Gone Coco – 706
Grace Adele – 202
Handbags & Accessories – 613
Just a Little Bling – 506
Miche Bag – 412
My French Boutique – 401
Ocean Threads – 214
Planet Wear – 107
She’s International – 410
Sole Creationz – 204

Match the number beside each vendor’s name to the map below and plan your trip!