Beautiful autumn weather draws shoppers

On Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, the parking lot at the Merrill Area Recreation Complex (MARC) was busy, with shoppers vying for a close parking spot and some vendors even setting up booths or stalls outdoors. The beautiful autumn weather made it a great day to get out and make the rounds.
Food trucks also came out so that shoppers didn’t have to go hungry. The MARC was the scene for the Fall Everything Goes Sales Event that drew vendors with merchandise akin to a flea market, as well as vendors with established product lines, representatives from local service companies, and crafters. From furniture to fleece blankets and vintage toys to newly crocheted stuffed animals, there was something for everyone.
Meanwhile, across town at the Merrill Fairgrounds in the Merrill Expo Center, the hall there was bustling with shoppers who came out for their Fall Craft and Vendor Sale. Attendees were checking out both the gift shop at the Expo Center and dozens of tables set up by crafters and vendors in the main hall. Books and bags, rugs and wreaths, framed art, fantastic fantasy creations made with 3D printers, and all sorts of items suitable for home decor and gift-giving filled the floor. A few booths also had bakery items.
At least one shopper was already checking people off her Christmas list as she shopped, she said. It’s a fair bet she wasn’t the only one shopping with the season of giving just a little over 12 weeks away.