November 2022 … 

Bella Rustina is your one-stop holiday shopping event

Exhibitors are readying their wares for the next Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market, Nov. 18-20 at the Conway Expo Center in Conway.

According to the event’s Facebook page, the holiday version of the market will feature blow molds, ceramic trees, old ornaments, silver trees, upcycled vintage Christmas wreaths and décor, and vintage toys, as well as a few more surprises. More than 325 booths and six food trucks will be on site.

Bella Rustina is presented by Ashley’s Finds LLC; admission to the market’s early buying hours is $10 on Friday, while Saturday and Sunday is $5 for adults, and children 18 and younger are free. For more information, visit www.bellarustina.com.

November 2022 … 

Spend Black Friday shopping at Merchant Square Antiques & Boutiques

A new antique store in Independence, Merchant Square Antiques and Boutiques, is ready for the holidays with a storewide Black Friday Through Monday Sale, Nov. 25-28.

Merchant, which has been open since late October and has another location in Chandler, AZ, boasts more than 400 vendors throughout its 52,000 square feet of space. Open every day of the week, it’s sure to attract plenty of seasoned shoppers on Tuesdays when seniors receive 10 percent off throughout the entire store.

For more information, visit www.merchantsquareantiques.com or text “Independence” to 77222.

November 2022 … 

Raise a glass to local history with Vaile’s Champagne and Chandeliers Tour

The Vaile Mansion in Independence invites you to an evening of high-class history when it hosts its annual Champagne and Chandeliers Tour on Dec. 3 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Built in 1881 by tycoon Henry Vaile, the 21-room mansion is recognized as one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the U.S. The stately home will be decorated for the Christmas season.

Those taking the tour will be able to enjoy appetizers and glasses of champagne during the event. Advanced tickets are $25 when purchased on www.eventbrite.com and $35 at the door.

Call the mansion at 816-325-7430 or visit www.vailemansion.org for more information.

November 2022 … 

Celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas in Lindsborg

A cherished annual tradition will return to Lindsborg with the arrival of the Saint Lucia Festival on Dec. 10.

The town, nicknamed “Little Sweden’ will mark the Swedish holiday, which centers around a Swedish folklore tale about a white-robed figure with a red sash and green-wreathed head adorned with candles who saved a village from starvation and delivered hope.

Lindsborg’s own festival will include traditional Swedish folk dancing, live music, traditional songs sung both in Swedish and English, and the coronation of the high school’s Saint Lucia. Most events will take place at Bethany Lutheran Church; the festival is sponsored by the Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For more information, call 785-227-8687 or e-mail travelinfo@lindsborgcity.org. 

November 2022 … 

America’s Heartland Collection to shutter its doors at end of 2022

America’s Heartland Collection, a longtime antique store and its auction arm of the business, Brandon Otto Auctioneering, in Spring Hill, will close Dec. 31.

Deb Chester, who has owned the business for 12 years, says her landlord wishes to use the buildings that make up the store and repair space for a different purpose, and Chester has no plans to relocate.

“I’ll miss the public,” Chester says, “but I’m looking forward to having Saturdays and Sundays off.”

Chester says that after the Dec. 31 closure date, vendors will have two weeks in which to clear out their booths; she plans to sell any unclaimed inventory in a garage sale. Chester herself has much more time to clean out the business and prepare it for her landlord, she says.

For now, Chester says she encourages both old and new customers to come by for going-out-of-business deals.

“We’re rewarding our customers who come in and shop by having some sales — 25-50 percent off right now,” Chester says. “I want sellers to sell to the end because it’s the holiday season.”

As for what her own future will bring, Chester says she likely will maintain her “habit of buying and selling things.”

“This will be a big void for Spring Hill, but I live about 15 miles away, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense for me to keep coming,” Chester says. “I may or may not do online (sales). I may or may not do online auctions.”

America’s Heartland Collection is located at 305 S. Webster in Spring Hill. Call 913-592-2400 for more information.