TARC Holiday Open House

Ole’ Saint Nick’s sled is still covered in dust, he’s not migrating south for another month.

That won’t stop Tri-parish shoppers who will still be able to get a head start on their holiday gift selections at the TARC Holiday Open House, which will display several homemade products created at the TARC campus.

The event is set for Nov. 12 and will take place at a new time this year, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the TARC restaurant and TARC campus.

“It’s one stop holiday shopping,” said Erica Null, TARC’s director of Marketing and Business Development. “It’s a real great way to kick off the holiday season and we have a variety of products from all of our 17 businesses at TARC.”

The products Null referenced are wide-ranging and are sure to fit anyone’s needs and budget.

Items include artwork, crafts, plants, hypertufa pots, worm tea bags, holiday T-shirts and an annual favorite, TARC’s Cajun Confections gourmet candy products.

“They are perfect for gift packages and things like that for family and friends,” Null said.

Also available this year is a new product called garden marbles, which is must for anyone with a love for a beautiful lawn, but not necessarily a love for yard work.

“These are basically seed balls that are great for the gardener that doesn’t want to do a lot of gardening,” Null said. “Those are made right here on campus. That’s one of our newest products.”

TARC’s offerings are a must for parents looking to get a leg up in their shopping, but don’t mistake the Open House for an adult-only event.

There will be plenty of things for the kiddies at the event, including a hayride that will take children around the TARC campus.

“We also have a lot of great, live music from our own bands here,” Null said. “They provide great holiday music, as well as a lot of rock ‘n’ roll music. … We definitely want the kids here and family and friends to come. This is definitely a family event.”

Rumor has it that a special someone will also be making his rounds, checking to see if your young one has been naughty or nice in advance for Christmas.

Maybe the sled’s been dusted off after all.

“We do have Santa, he comes out here every year,” Null said. “It’s a great photo opportunity and it’s free for the kids.”

So head on out to TARC for the annual Holiday Open House.

One can never begin shopping for the holiday season too soon. There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a long line on Christmas Eve.

“Get a head start,” Null said. “This kicks it all off.”