By Sean Eshelman
Special to The Alpine Mountaineer

A literary classic turned annual community tradition will be accompanied by a festive market this year, giving locals yet another way to get into the holiday “spirit.”
The Heisler Theater’s annual production of A Christmas Carol will take place nightly starting on Tuesday, Dec. 20 and ending Saturday, Dec. 24 at the Twin Peaks Community Center. The production begins at 7:30 p.m. each evening.
Alongside this year’s production of the classic Dickens’ tale, theatergoers and the general public alike are invited to partake in “A Christmas Carol Marketplace” where, each afternoon leading up to the play, a small artisan market will take place, giving visitors a chance to do some last-minute shopping, grab a bite to eat and enjoy some festive beer and wine.
The Marketplace will begin at 3 p.m. each day and will wind down as the play begins and the audience start to take their seats.
Kenneth Williams, owner of SoCal Beer and the event’s main sponsor and coordinator, said this event is intended to enhance the experience of A Christmas Carol with local artisans, food vendors and a hosted beverage garden offering festive treats for the whole family.
Williams said support of local business and talent will be a main focus of the event, in addition to a focus on giving back, with 10 percent of all proceeds being donated to the Elder Warrior Project, a charity that honors American veterans for their service.
“For the beer garden, we’re featuring the Mountain Mudslide Brown Ale, with artwork from local artist Chad Ewanic, who will be present to hand out complemintary posters of his amazing new label design,” Williams said.
“We’ll have additional local favorites such as Extra Red from Ritual Brewing, Milsner from Divine Science and Peach Cobbler Sour Ale from Asylum Brewing Co.”
Wine connoisseurs can also enjoy a diverse variety ranging from local, California-based wines to premium bottles from France and Portugal.
“The house wine is our Hitman California Red Wine or Bugsy’s Speakeasy Chardonnay, made for Tudorville,” Williams said, explaining that the name refers to the Tudor House properties’ Prohibition history.
For the non-drinkers in the family, an Italian soda bar will be available with a variety of flavors at $3 each.
To keep visitors to the market warm, a large, enclosed tent will be set up, complete with outdoor heaters and festive lighting to ensure the comfort of all. Artisan vendors will include Wears The Mountain, woodworker Rusty Nail Heritage Woodworks, fashion designer Miguel Torres with Mountain Harmony, as well as the dueling artist pair that make up Artistry and Alchemy, bringing apothecary, jewelry and home decor for attendees to purchase.
To learn more about A Christmas Carol and the marketplace, visit www.heislertheater.com; to purchase happy hour tickets, visit https://www.socal.beer/christmascarol/.

A Santa wine bottle koozie will be available for purchase from SoCal Beer at the Marketplace.

Wares from Rusty Nail Heritage Woodworks, one of many vendors that will be at the marketplace.

Artistry & Alchemy co-owners Lyndian Uhler-shaw (Left) and Nikki Bridges (right).