Monroeville's Third Annual Mockingbird Market

For Immediate Release

Contact Sandy Smith, Monroeville/Monroe County Area Chamber of Commerce, 251/743-2879 or info@monroecountyal.com

RE:  Monroeville’s Third Annual Mockingbird Market, A Retail Extravaganza, November 2^nd, 3^rd, & 4^th, Monroeville Community House, 271 Park Drive, Monroeville, Alabama.

Monroeville’s Third Mockingbird Market is slated for Friday, November 3^rd, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, November 4^th, from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Monroeville Community House.   An invitation only Preview Party for event sponsors and vendors will be held on Thursday, November 2^nd, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Mockingbird Market, (so-named because of the tie-in between Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and the town of Monroeville, her hometown) is a retail extravaganza with 30 plus vendors under one roof, making for one-stop holiday shopping.  The Market, in its third year, features several repeat vendors selling everything from sterling silver, home furnishings and accessories, to handmade candles, apparel, and even doggie treats.  The Market is fashioned after Junior League Christmas Shows in major cities such as Birmingham, Nashville and Memphis.  Organizers Chris Jones and Gail Deas proclaim that “Monroeville’s market offers a sophisticated mix of items in a personal, small town setting, making the event fun for shoppers and vendors alike.  Monroeville is noted for its hospitality and its food, and both will be celebrated in the 2006 market. “  

The Market is held in Monroeville’s historic Community House in Whitey Lee Park.  The park, named after former VF Corporation Chairman M. O. (Whitey) Lee was developed by the Vanity Fair Foundation beginning in 1948.  On December 11, 1952, the company dedicated the Community House (at that time, known as the Vanity Fair Community House). The Community House and surrounding park were donated to the City of Monroeville by Vanity Fair Mills in 1982.  The Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce has earmarked any monies raised from the Mockingbird Market for restoration of the park and Community House.  “The goal is to restore the park and Community House to the pristine condition they were in when they were maintained by Vanity Fair,” according to  Gail Deas and Chris Jones.   According to Chamber of Commerce President, Kenneth Fairly, the Mockingbird Market marries the chamber’s pursuit of retail trade for the Monroeville/Monroe County area with its desire to improve the community. 

General admission to the market for Friday and Saturday is $5.00 per person, payable at the door.    In addition, market sponsorships are available at the following levels:  Jingles, $ 500 and Up; Merry, $ 250 and Up; Greetings, $ 100  to $ 149; and Elves, $ 20 per person.  Sponsorships at any level include unlimited market admission for the weekend, and an invitation to the Thursday evening Preview Party where sponsors will be among the first to preview the market, and enjoy private shopping, food and a silent auction.

Announced vendors to date are:  A. M. Café, Andree’s Wine & Cheese, Arbonne, Barefoot Cottage, Cakes by Dayna, Carleton’s Mark, Cutters Corner, Fa’mily Creations, Finishing Touches, Finklea’s, Girl Scout Poinsettias, Heart to Heart Candles, Hi Ho Silver, Just Jesse, K. K.’s Creation, Karen Rainey Interiors, LaJenns, Middleton Clothiers, Miss Minnie & Me, Monroe County Heritage Museum Gift Shop, Monroe Health Foundation, Monroe County Hospital Gift Shop, My Favorite Things, Punky Doodle, Richard’s DAR House, Shades of Gray, Shannon Linden Silver, Silver Garden, The Paper Chase and Two Friends.  

While in Monroeville for the market, do not miss visiting the Monroe County Heritage Museums, on historic downtown square in Monroeville’s old courthouse.  Of special interest is the museum’s exhibits on  world renowned authors Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee. Other events of interest for Saturday, November 4^th, include Cane Syrup Making at Rikard’s Mill Historical Park, approximately a 20-minute drive from Monroeville, just north of the town of Beatrice.  For information on the Rikards Mill event, please contact the museum office at 251/575-7433.

Lodging in Monroeville:  Motels include Holiday Inn Express (251/743-3333); Days Inn (251/743-3297) and Best Western (251/575-9999).   Additional visitor information is available on the Chamber of Commerce webpage at www.monroecountyal.com. 

Directions to Monroeville:  Monroeville is centrally located in southwest Alabama, 85 miles north of Mobile and 95 miles south of Montgomery.  Driving time from Mobile to Monroeville is 1 ½ hours; from Montgomery, allow 2 hours. 

From Montgomery:  Take I-65 south to the 2^nd Evergreen exit, Exit 93.  Turn right off the exit ramp onto U. S. Highway 84, the El Camino Corridor.   Follow U. S. Highway 84 west approximately 25 miles to Ollie.  At Ollie, bear right on 136 for ½ miles.  Merge right onto State Highway 21 North.  Follow approximately 5 miles to downtown Monroeville.   At Monroeville’s Square, continue one-way around the square, and turn right on Claiborne Street, going west.  Follow Claiborne Street for approximately ¾ mile to Fort Short Millsap, the National Guard Armory and turn left immediately past it onto Golf Drive.   Follow Golf Drive approximately four blocks, and continue past Vanity Fair Golf & Tennis Club (on your left).  Bear right immediately past the Golf & Tennis Club, onto Park Drive.  Continue down Park Drive until you see the Monroeville Community House, on your left. 

From Mobile:   Take I-65 north to the Atmore Exit, number 57.  At Atmore exit off ramp and turn left on to Alabama Highway 21, going north.  Follow 21 for approximately 26 miles and you will reach the intersection of Alabama Highway 21 and U. S. Highway 84.  Continue through this intersection on Highway 21 another 5 or so miles until you reach downtown Monroeville.  Follow traffic one way around Monroeville’s historic square.  Turn right on Claiborne Street, going west.  Follow Claiborne to Golf Drive, and turn left.  Follow Golf Drive until you reach Vanity Fair Golf & Tennis Club, on your left.  At this point, bear right onto Park Drive.  Follow Park Drive until you see the Monroeville Community House, on your left. 

For further information, please contact the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce, at 251/743-2879.