This past Saturday, Central Street came alive with the festive spirit of the Andover Holiday Market. Local artisans, crafters, and food vendors lined the streets as attendees enjoyed family-friendly activities like sock skating and live music performances. With Santa and Mrs. Claus making an appearance and a food drive benefiting Bread and Roses, the market offered something for everyone.
Carter Aime ’25 emphasized the positive energy that filled the air, noting how the live music, festive decorations, and friendly faces created a warm and inviting atmosphere.
“I’m really glad I went because the energy was just really fun. Now that it’s the holiday season, I wanted to get into the festive spirit, and I think a lot of other people did too. It was cool seeing the Andover community come together to have a good time,” said Aime.
Beyond the jovial environment and diverse offerings, the market served as a unique opportunity for Andover Academy students to connect with the broader community. Zadie Robinson ’26 expressed her appreciation for the chance to step outside the campus bubble and engage with the town.
“I went because back in my hometown there weren’t a lot of farmer’s markets or things like this that I could go to and here in Andover and going to these types of events, it’s honestly such a good way to build community throughout Andover… Everyone was very kind and just really bonding. People from campus, people from downtown, people from Main St., they all kind of come together, and they all interacted, and they talked to each other,” shared Robinson.
The market also provided a platform for youth to showcase their talents, including Andover students. Magnus Julin ’25, founder of Magnus Woodsmith, participated as a vendor in the market, displaying his handcrafted cutting boards and other wooden utensils for guests to purchase.
“I forget exactly how I learned about the holiday market originally, but it was most likely through some other local craft fairs I participate in. Because I was already a vendor from last year, the market contacted me again this year, and from there, it was mostly a matter of some paperwork to become a vendor again this year. Besides that, I just had to make sure to restock my products over Thanksgiving break so that I had enough for the market,” said Julin.
Woodworking has played a significant role in Julin’s life, inspiring him to start his own business. Since a young age, Julin has been passionate about creating visually aesthetic and functional pieces.
Julin said, “My dad has been a hobbyist woodworker for as long as I can remember, and I grew up being his shop helper. Around first grade, I wanted to start a business, and I tried an array of things, even starting a snow cone stand at the end of the driveway. However, none of that was particularly successful. Then, my dad suggested that I should try woodworking as a business, and Magnus Woodsmith was born.”
As Julin prepares to go to college, he remains uncertain about his future role in the Andover Holiday Market. However, he is hopeful that it will continue to thrive, and that Andover students will continue to support the Andover community in such ways.
“I am still deciding what the future of Magnus Woodsmith will be as I move on to college next year, so I don’t know if I will be participating again next year. Either way, I hope it lasts for many years to come I think it is important to celebrate the hard work and talents of artisans,” said Julin.
With a noticeably higher turnout than last year, the 2024 Andover Holiday Market seemed to be a resounding success. Not only did it give vendors a space to present their work, but it also inspired a warm sense of community and holiday cheer.
