Holy Trinity Academy Bazaar Draws Local Shoppers, Supports School Fundraising

Holy Trinity Academy staged its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday at the Sebastiani Gym, 200 Church Street in Trinidad, bringing local artisans, crafters, and small business vendors together for a day of holiday shopping and fundraising. The event ran from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and was presented as both a community fundraiser and a chance for residents to purchase seasonal goods without traveling to larger markets.

Community bazaars like this one serve multiple economic functions in Las Animas County. For vendors, short seasonal markets generate supplemental income at a time when household spending typically increases. For the school, proceeds from booth fees and donations contribute directly to programming and operational needs, helping to offset local budget pressures that rural schools frequently face. For shoppers, the bazaar keeps local retail dollars circulating within the county rather than leaking to distant shopping centers in larger cities.

The timing mattered. Early December is a pivotal window for small retailers and nonprofit fundraisers as consumers concentrate holiday spending. A concentrated event from mid morning to mid afternoon concentrates foot traffic and can raise the per visitor spend compared with ongoing, lower intensity sales. For a county with a dispersed population and limited retail density, a one day bazaar offers convenience and an efficient way for residents to support neighborhood sellers.

Beyond immediate sales and fundraising, the bazaar also contributes to longer term economic resilience by sustaining microenterprises and home based artisans. Regular seasonal markets can help vendors build repeat customers, develop product lines for broader markets, and justify investments in inventory and marketing. From a policy perspective, supporting these events through modest municipal promotion and low cost permit processes can amplify local economic multipliers, keeping tax bases and community services more stable.

As holiday commerce continues, events such as the Holy Trinity Academy Christmas Bazaar remain a pragmatic tool for strengthening local economic ties, supporting school finances, and offering residents convenient, community centered shopping options.