Last weekend’s Holiday Fair Day at Hotel Nyack was a warm and bustling break from outdoor events. Free, indoor markets like Holiday Fair Day operate as “third places” that directly support winter wellness. These markets provide residents a warm, low‑barrier space to gather, move, and connect beyond home and work. In Nyack, it gave neighbors a chance to connect leisurely and browse local vendors to support small businesses.
The MTM Institute joined the festivities via The MTM Network: Hudson Valley. We shared resources and conversations around our 2025 Winter Wellness campaign, focused on mindful business and community care. For example, research on local economies shows that when communities concentrate spending with independent vendors at these events, the local economy retains more money. A larger share of each dollar circulates locally, boosting wages, jobs, and community resources throughout the season.
Holiday Fair Day was a free, indoor event on a chilly winter day. It functioned as both a marketplace and a community gathering spot. Public health research and social-infrastructure research demonstrate that access to third places is important, including markets, cafés, libraries, and community centers. They serve as informal gathering spaces and are linked to lower loneliness and better mental and physical health.
These spaces are especially critical in winter when colder temperatures and shorter days reduce outdoor activity. They increase the risk of isolation and seasonal mood challenges. While third places like Holiday Fair Day are free to enter and comfortable to linger in. They remove financial and psychological barriers to participation allowing people to regulate stress collectively rather than alone.
People could connect without pressure to spend. From the moment guests walked into the ballroom, the space felt lively and welcoming. Rows of local makers, authors, and small business owners greeted visitors and chatted. The event remained steadily busy throughout the afternoon. Families, friends, and solo shoppers all took their time to explore. They sampled and talked with vendors.
Money spent locally recirculates two to four times more within the community. This is shown by independent‑business studies. Money spent at chains or online retailers does not have the same effect. Multiple studies by Civic Economics and the Institute for Local Self‑Reliance show that spending $100 at a local independent business generates about $45 in additional local spending. In contrast, the same amount spent at a big‑box store generates about $14. This “local multiplier effect” means that free markets hosting many small vendors not only support individual entrepreneurs but also amplify overall community resilience
In Nyack, vendors displayed a variety of custom products, including jewelry, apparel, candles, art, baked goods, and wellness products. They showcased the creativity and diversity of Rockland’s small business community. Many shared stories about how in-person markets like this one help them meet new customers. They test ideas and build relationships that are hard to create online alone.
During the event, The MTM Network: Hudson Valley connected with organizers and several vendors. I introduced the Winter Wellness campaign. We discussed ways to support both business and personal well-being during the colder months. Conversations included practical topics like stress management during the holiday rush. They also covered how to communicate boundaries with customers and clients. Plus, simple ways to build rest into a packed schedule.
These touchpoints also opened the door to future collaborations. Partnerships include cross-promotion of wellness content and participation in upcoming MTM Network events. There are also potential sponsorships that align with our focus on sustainable, community-centered growth.
This Holiday Fair exemplified a core Winter Wellness principle. Mental and emotional health are strengthened when people have low-barrier, welcoming spaces to gather in person. Free admission and indoor warmth helped people of all ages and budgets. They could simply show up and move around. These key behaviors help counter winter isolation. They also alleviate financial stress and holiday pressure.
Events like this one demonstrate how local organizers, small businesses, and mission-driven organizations work together. They collaborate to create “micro-wellness hubs” in their communities. These hubs are places where residents can shop local. People can feel seen. They leave with both tangible goods and a sense of belonging.
Come, connect, and collab at MTM Network events online and in local regions like New England and The Hudson Valley.
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Works Cited
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