With the fall semester nearing its end and the holiday season quickly approaching, Wilkes University is gearing up for one of its most anticipated annual traditions: the Holiday Shopping Event.
This event will be returning on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Henry Student Center.
The awaited event is hosted each year by Student Development, and gives students, staff, and faculty the opportunity to support small businesses and now, for the first time, student clubs and organizations as well.
This year the event is being led by Student Development Graduate Assistant Kimberly Wheeler, who has taken on the challenge of coordinating every detail from vendor outreach to club involvement.
According to Director of Student Success Stacy Mullen, giving the GA the opportunity to run the event is intentional.
“Our GA is typically the one who takes the lead on the Holiday Shopping Event each year, which gives them the chance to get real experience planning an event from start to finish,” Mullen explained.
“Kim already has a solid background in event planning from her two years as Programming Board President, so she used this year’s event as an opportunity to expand the shopping options by inviting student clubs and organizations to participate.”
The addition of student clubs marks one of the biggest changes to the event’s structure. While Kim has been working directly with student organizations to finalize which groups will table, Mullen emphasized that interest has been strong and continues to grow.
Clubs will now have the chance not only to engage with the campus community but also to raise funds for future events, conferences or ongoing initiatives.
“I’m really excited to have clubs and organizations involved this year,” Mullen said.
“It will give them a chance to raise money for things they’re working on and it will also give students, faculty and staff even more options to choose from.”
The Holiday Shopping Event is known for bringing a wide variety of vendors to campus and this year is no different.
In previous years, the first floor of the SUB has been packed wall-to-wall with tables offering everything from handmade goods to edible treats. Now, with the expansion to the second floor, the event will accommodate even more sellers.
“We have a good mix of vendors again this year, with some returning and a few new ones,” Mullen shared.
“There’s usually a wide range of items and price points, so there’s something for everyone. We do our best to invite local small businesses, since they really benefit from the exposure.”
Historically, some of the most popular tables have showcased hand-painted glassware, handcrafted jewelry, pet treats, and homemade food items including cookies, popcorn and seasonal baked goods.
Students often use the event as a chance to purchase holiday gifts for family and friends, but many admit they also enjoy grabbing a treat for themselves, something fun to lift their spirits as finals approach.
“Students have told us they really like being able to get some holiday shopping done without having to leave campus,” Mullen said. “A lot of them also enjoy picking up something small for themselves as a little treat as the semester is wrapping up.”
The timing of the event, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., was intentionally chosen to overlap with club hours, allowing more students to stop by between classes, meetings and study sessions.
While the event welcomes a wide variety of sellers, Mullen noted that Student Development maintains general guidelines to ensure the environment remains comfortable and inclusive for everyone.
“We don’t have a formal policy on what vendors can or can’t sell, but we do ask that everything stays family friendly,” she said.
“In general, we just try to make sure nothing would make someone feel uncomfortable or excluded. We want the event to feel welcoming for everyone who stops by.”
That focus on community spirit extends beyond campus and into the broader Wilkes-Barre area. Supporting small, local businesses remains one of the event’s core goals, especially during the holiday season.
“I hope people leave with a better understanding of how important it is to support small, local businesses,” Mullen shared.
“Every purchase directly benefits the vendors or clubs who are participating, and that kind of support is really impactful, especially around the holidays.”
Each year, the Holiday Shopping Event brings new faces, new crafts, and new opportunities to the Wilkes community and 2025 promises to be its biggest yet.
With expanded club involvement, additional vendor space and a renewed focus on celebrating both campus and local talent, the event continues to evolve while staying true to its welcoming, festive roots.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stop by the SUB on December 2 to browse, support and shop local. Whether you’re checking names off your holiday list or simply looking for a little mid-semester joy, the Holiday Shopping Event remains a campus tradition worth celebrating.