NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- As many as 100 merchants from Orange County and around the country will offer a head start on holiday gift buying at The Christmas Company, the Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc. (JLOCC) shopping extravaganza to be held November 16-19 at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center.
Many of the specialty merchandisers at the fundraising event, themed "The Spirit of Christmas," offer wares that are unavailable through traditional stores.
Everything from women's fashions to children's clothing and books, home decor, gardening items and gourmet foods will be on display. A wide gamut of everyday products and holiday decorations will also be offered. Women's clothing, jewelry and accessories will be available from Purseonality, Slater and Sloane, Hippie Chix Studio, Little Black Dress, The Cherished Accessory, Lu Ping Pearls, and Paco Soler, to name just a few. Haute Stuff for Kids, Papa Bear Pajamas, Dollites, Bassinets & Blueberries, Baby Jak and a Whale of a Tale, among others, will offer children's books, clothing, furnishings, and toys. A Store For Cooks, Knife Nitch, Cherchies, Iveta Gourmet, and Davis Mountain Nuts will present gourmet foods, dishes and cookware. Lavender Blue, English Gardenstone, and A Room to View are among the household and garden item vendors. For a complete list of participants, go to www.jlocc.org.
On The Christmas Company's opening day, Friday, November 16, a Preferred Shopping Breakfast ($30) will take place from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. From 10 a.m.-10 p.m., general admission is priced at $10 per person. An Evening of Food & Wine ($75), 6 p.m.-10 p.m., will offer a wine tasting courtesy of Gallo Family Vineyards, Napa Valley Vineyard, Ghost Pines, Gascon and Frei Brothers Reserve accompanied by small-plate dining contributed by restaurants such as Bluewater Grill, Five Crowns, The Cannery, Villa Nova, and more. Tickets to the breakfast and wine tasting can be purchased online at www.jlocc.org or by calling (949) 263-3785. General admission tickets can be purchased at the door.
On Saturday, November 17, Early Bird Shopping ($20) is scheduled for 8-10 a.m. General Admission ($10) shopping will be held 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The American Girl Fashion Shows ($27) will be held on Saturday (1 p.m. and 4 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m.).
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of The Christmas Company, which has raised more than $6.5 million for the benefit of JLOCC's charitable projects including the Orange County Bar Foundation, Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center, Casa Teresa Inc., Girls Inc., Orangewood Children's Foundation's Bridges to Higher Learning, Impact Orange County, and Bear Hugs. The organization also awards thousands of dollars in grants and scholarships each year. As a solely educational and charitable organization, the JLOCC's trained volunteers actively support the community through collaboration with organizations that promote and support the health, safety and education of women and children.
About the Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc.
The Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and the leadership of trained volunteers. JLOCC has contributed to Orange County by helping found organizations such as Orangewood Children's Home and the Volunteer Center of Orange County, among others. JLOCC's purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. A 501(c)(3) organization, the JLOCC reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins. Originally founded in 1956 as the Newport Harbor Service League, the JLOCC is a member organization of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. To learn more about the JLOCC, call (949) 261-0823 or visit www.jlocc.org.