It is also a highlight of roughly 10,000 Juneauites and shoppers on a pilgrimage to find the ultimate deal, according to Peter Metcalfe, organizer of the event. Metcalfe began the Market back in 1983. Inspired by various markets, especially the Pike Street Market in Seattle, he decided to bring a little Christmas cheer and wares to the people of Juneau.

Since its inception, the Public Market has grown to hold more than 200 vendors from 27 cities and six states and annexed the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall to accommodate both vendors and patrons.

Eight-year vendor Ted Bodley of Eagle River Knife Company said the Public Market is the best market that the company attends.

Metcalfe attributes the popularity and quality of the wares to the natural evolution of what people want in Juneau.

"It's no surprise that some vendors like the Eagle River Knife Company keep coming back - people want their product. And it's high quality, too. The lesser quality, unwanted products and vendors don't develop the relationships with the people who come to the show and so they usually don't come back. There's a natural attrition to shaping the show, and over 25 years, the quality has grown immensely," Metcalfe said.

First-time vendor to the Market, but no stranger to the craft bazaar scene, Julie Vance said she's worked up to the "biggest craft show in Southeast Alaska" in smaller shows. Vance owns Arctic Wild Wear, a clothing store for boys, girls, and women that airs on the wild side in terms of prints and designs.

"I'm pretty excited about it," Vance said. "I usually don't get caught up in the wild frenzy of Christmas shopping, but I hope to see it at the Market." Vance adds that the experience has a lot more style and character than going to a mall.

High-quality goods aside, all of the vendors echo the sentiment that the Market is all about the socializing. "It's a major social event, all-together good time for people who crowd into the facilities. Those of us who lived in Juneau for a very long time only see certain people once a year at the Juneau Market," Metcalfe said. Familiar faces that haven't been seen in a year suddenly pop up for patrons and vendors alike, and sometimes the best find at the Market is finding an old friend.