Holiday House Celebrating 30 Years

from 2021-2022 JLLR Interaction Magazine

President's Note

Celebrating 30 Years of Holiday House

Isabella Bradley and Maddie Schmidt

Black Friday shopping takes on a whole new meaning when Junior League of Little Rock’s Holiday House, presented by Simmons Bank, comes to town each year.

The 30th annual fundraiser for Junior League took the 2020 year off for safety precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and came back in 2021 ready to celebrate.

“We were very excited to help kick-off the shopping season with our 30th annual Holiday House event,” said Holiday House Chair Keri Richmond. “After a tough year for our community, we were excited to celebrate the 30th year of Holiday House safely. By shopping at Holiday House, you’re shopping for a cause. Holiday House provides significant funding for the League’s community programs in areas such as promoting children’s literacy, providing free wellness screenings, and serving youth with developmental needs.”

History proves the success of Holiday House with the number of attendees. Over the years, more than 15,000 shoppers have walked through the Statehouse Convention Center doors over the span of four days to get their holiday shopping started. “Just thinking about opening those doors each year, I think of the smiles and hugs that you see of families embracing, kids running up to grandparents, and sorority sisters coming together again,” said Isabella Bradley, Publicity Chair for Holiday House 2021. “Holiday House is a time for so many to come together, but also brings our committee together all working for a common goal. We’ve become friends, and in the process are doing good for our community.”

Holiday House is a reminder to all that when women come together, the power to do anything is possible. Since 1990, Holiday House has collectively raised over $6 million for the JLLR’s community service projects including Stuff the Bus, Nightingales, LYFE, Kota Camp, Little Readers Rock and Boosters & Big Rigs. The event generates more than 50 percent of all funding for the League’s community projects. Holiday House is the largest holiday shopping event in central Arkansas and hosts nearly 200 merchants.

In 2020, a time when the League was ready to promote and celebrate 30 years of Holiday House, COVID-19 shut it down. And while so many committee and league members were disappointed,

the community responded in the same way. Reading posts on social media and hearing around Central Arkansas, “We go every year, I can’t believe it!” COVID-19 guidelines from the local and state level were followed this year to ensure the safety of all shoppers. So, as so many consider it their one-stop-shop for Christmas shopping, a reunion of friends near and far, Holiday House was just as ready to open its doors this year!