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On Saturday, December 17  The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts is helping bring the holiday spirit alive in the city Dec. 17 with festivities including Brunch with Santa, the Holiday Artisan Market, free ornament making for children, caroling by the Doorway Singers and Santa Swings featuring the Tidewater Winds.

The day kicks-off with “Brunch with Santa” at Da’lish Restaurant, located on the first floor of the Suffolk Center. Enjoy a special holiday menu while visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Brunch with Santa has two seatings — the first at 9 a.m. and second at 10:30 a.m. Children ages 5 and under are free, while it is $6 for children ages 6-12, and all others are $12. Reservations are available by calling Da’lish Restaurant at 757-809-0378.

Festivities continue with the Holiday Artist Market from noon to 7 p.m., rain or shine inside the Suffolk Center’s Taylor Ballroom. Admission is free. The Holiday Artist Market is a great way to shop local and support the arts.

The event showcases 35 artisans with gift options for everyone, including: All Things Cats, pottery; Angle Clay Co., jewelry, décor and gifts; BOBCAT’S Woods and Designs, charcuterie boards; Body Love, soaps and lotions; Cait Creates, jewelry and fiber art; Design Boutique LLC, décor gifts and glass items; Dezy 1 Artz, holiday hand-painted signs; Eager Beaver Makers, holiday wooden décor and gifts; Elizabeth Jones, acrylic paintings; Enfield Studios LLC, scrimshaw and stained glass; Frannie D Designs, handcrafted pottery; Fred and Lou, holiday baked goods; Joanne’s Goat Milk Soap, bath gift baskets;

Kambellishments, eclectic cécor; Kay’s Designs, jewelry and glass; Kookie Momster, baked goods; Leanne Moss Art, oil paintings; Lizzy Lathers, soaps and lotions; Mama-Girl Folk Art, sculpture; Mary Carr Roberts, cards and paper products; McCleary Advertising and Design, visual art; MK Garden Bliss LLC, holiday wreaths; Re-Creative Enterprises LLC, upcycling décor and gifts; Rhona Dawson, holiday décor and textiles; Rock Maker Stitches, crochet items; Schadel Sheet Metal Works, metal art;

Spinners End Studio, weaving; Studio Q, jewelry; The Artificer’s Archive, jewelry and resin creations; The Cat Creeps Studio, décor and gifts; Thea Twisdale, sculpture and German dolls; Tommy Johnson, visual art; Up In Smoke, smoked cheeses; VP Candle Works, candles; abd WLR Creative Enterprises, pillows and children’s books.

At 6 p.m., the holiday merriment continues with pre-show photo-ops with Santa and holiday crooning by the Doorway Singers, Hampton Roads’ premiere vocal group, as they stroll the center in perfect four-part harmony.

Enjoy complimentary hot cider and hot chocolate or relax with a pre-show beer or wine, available at the center’s cash bar.

Make sure to leave some time to stroll the two award-winning art galleries featuring Takin’ Care of Business, an interactive art exhibition spotlighting Suffolk Business from the past and present.

Topping off the evening at 7:30 p.m., the Little Big Band of Tidewater Winds performs Santa Swings. Experience the joyful sounds of the season and sing-a-long songs that will make this concert a new family holiday tradition. In addition, the evening features a special appearance by the Suffolk Center Singers, directed by Toni Cotturone.

Reserve tickets today for this time-honored family holiday tradition. Tidewater Winds Santa Swings tickets are $22, $28, and $34 for adults, $15 for youth ages 15 and under.

The center will also have tickets available to purchase for holiday gifts. Stop by the Suffolk Center box office and purchase tickets to 2023 performances: Masters of Soul, Jan. 28; Chris Michael Experience, Feb. 18; ICONS: Tribute Show, March 11; Hurrah Players Live, March 25; and Crazy for Patsy Cline, April 1.

Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts is located at 110 W. Finney Ave., in historic downtown Suffolk. For additional information, visit SuffolkCenter.org or call the box office at 757-923-2900.