The spirit of East Point was on full display this past November as neighbors gathered for the Market 166 Fall Market Holiday Festival. It was more than just a seasonal celebration; it was a vibrant demonstration of what happens when we prioritize local food, mutual aid, and local connection. While the festival celebrated the harvest, it also served as a critical lifeline during a challenging month for many of our neighbors.
From the warmer-than-usual autumn air to the smell of fresh greens and sounds of laughter, the festival served as a joyous reminder of our progress toward bringing a community-owned grocery and kitchen to the heart of our city.
- The Mini Market Showcase: The star of the show was our curated selection of local vendors. Attendees got a taste of the future of Market 166, featuring everything from seasonal organic produce to the fan-favorite Dope Coffee and Mama Power Kale Salad Marinade & Dressing. To ensure the market was accessible to everyone, we offered a 15% discount on all Mini Market purchases for any attendee who presented a SNAP card, reaffirming our belief that high-quality food is a right, not a luxury.
- A Celebration of Foodways: In honor of our diverse heritage, the festival featured vendors with products made from natural sources and food demonstrations that connected our current plates to our ancestral roots. We celebrated the legacy of the farmers and urban gardeners who paved the way for our modern food sovereignty movement.
- Raffles with a Purpose: With SNAP benefits suspended during the holiday season, our community stepped up in a major way. We held special raffles designed specifically to feed our community. Through the generosity of our members, we gave away bountiful food baskets and grocery store gift cards to help families navigate the gap in benefits.
- Direct Action & Donations: The festival served as a major collection point for packaged and canned foods. Collaborating with our partners, Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, these donations stayed right here in East Point, supporting our Tri-Cities High School and ensuring that our collective “strength in numbers” translated into full pantries for our neighbors.
- Civic Action in Motion: True to our mission of intersectional justice, the festival wasn’t just about food. Partners like Southeast Environmental Justice Alliance and the East Point Green Team were on-site, sharing tips on sustainable urban living and information on local elections, connecting the dots between the food on our plates and our power at the ballot box.
- Family & Art: The sounds of local Latin and R&B musicians filled the air while children engaged in harvest-themed crafts, educational activities, and giant lawn games! Children of all ages enjoyed face painting and participated in a Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian Martial Arts) demonstration. It was a beautiful sight to see generations coming together to celebrate the “irrepressible power of strength in numbers.”
Building Wealth, Together
Thanks to the hard work and attention of our fabulous and generous volunteers, everything went off without a hitch! We gained new owners, and community interest in volunteering grew.
Every dollar spent and every can donated at the festival was a vote for our local economy and a demonstration of our resilience. By supporting each other during the SNAP suspension, and the artisans and growers present, our community proved once again that we can find solutions within our neighborhoods, and we don’t need to leave our city limits to find high-quality, nutritious, and diverse resources.
The event was a living example of the cooperative model in action: a system built by the community, for the community, to ensure no one is left behind.
What’s Next
The energy from the Fall Holiday Festival is fueling our drive as we head into 2026. This gathering was a “thank you” to our current owners and a reminder of why Market 166 is so essential in our community. The Festival was also an open invitation to our neighbors who haven’t yet joined the movement.
As we reflect on the laughter shared and the connections made, we are more committed than ever to making Market 166 the food destination and gathering place that East Point deserves.
We aren’t just building a grocery store; we are building a foodway resource that stands with its residents through every season.
