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The second annual United Way-sponsored Merry Market is Friday and Saturday, with a preview party and silent auction Thursday night.

Merry Market is a holiday shopping extravaganza that features approximately 30 vendors from six different states. Merry Market, which is being held at Callaway Conference Center on the West Georgia Technical College’s campus, is starting off the holiday season with a one-stop shopping experience that is offering shoppers merchandise from a wide variety of vendors.

Thursday night’s preview party will be from 5 to 9 p.m. and will give shoppers the advantage of being able to see and purchase items before the regular show’s weekend hours. Vendors have all donated one of their items for a silent auction which will also take place at the preview party. Tickets for the preview show are $25, which includes first look at merchandise, food, entertainment and return admission for the entire weekend.

Entertainment is scheduled for both Thursday night and Friday afternoon. Thursday night’s entertainment will feature the talents of Robin Treadwell and a walk around fashion show that will be highlighting woman and children fashions that can be purchased from attending merchants. Friday afternoon’s entertainment will feature the groups Young Singers and Re-Generation. Radio station WTRP will broadcast live from the market Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m..

On Friday, Merry Market is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door or prior to the market at Hutchinson Traylor Insurance Agency.

The proceeds from this three-day event will benefit Early Learning in Troup County. Through a national initiative, Success by Six, The United Way of West Georgia coordinates the community-wide efforts of early childhood programs. Three of the programs that Merry Market will help support are First Steps, Troup BELL and Summer Play.

“Ninty percent of all brain development occurs by the time the child is 4 years old. It is all those patterns that are laid down, the puzzles, the rhyming words, the word patterns, the vocabulary, all of that contribute to school readiness,” said United Way of West Georgia president Patty Youngblood. “If we can reach a child between the ages of 0 and 5 and help them get those skills that they need to be able to learn by the time they enter school, how far is that child ahead?”

West Georgia Health, CB&T, LaGrange-Troup County Bureau of Tourism and GPS Studios are working with The United Way to sponsor this holiday shopping. Merry Market is designed to have people “Shop With a Purpose.”The purpose is to help fund the Early Learning programs for Troup County’s children.

Further information is available online at www.merrymarket lagrange.com, or by phone at 706-884-8292.