Holiday Vendor Show at the Prescott Gateway Mall.
Holiday music piped in from the over head speakers as I setup my table at the holiday vendor show at the Prescott Gateway Mall. It wasn’t the really obnoxious holiday music, it was rather 
enjoyable through out the day. The windows of the empty stores are painted with Christmas scenes, like trees, wrapped presents, garlands and wreaths. I suppose it might be to distract the shoppers from the empty store fronts.
Santa came to visit me at the Prescott Gateway Mall
I greeted each person that walked past my table, and chatted with those that took the time to stop and ask questions. I think it was the Horse tiles that pulled them over. I was speaking with this delightful gentleman with a long beard and a big belly, but I was slow to catch on. He told me he was getting ready to go to work- he works at the Mall 7 days a week until Christmas. I innocently asked what kind of work he did at the mall for 7 days a week and he answered with a “ho ho ho”. He shared a few stories about his 20+ years of playing Santa at various Christmas parties, parades, kiddie parties and now, daily photo sessions with Santa at the Prescott Gateway Mall. I suggested he write a book about his life as Santa!
Walkers and Strollers at the Prescott Gateway Mall
Tiles in the floor mark distances; walkers keep track of their miles at the Guest Services Center located in front of the fire place at the Prescott Gateway Mall. Stop by the Guest Services Center, complete a registration card and pick up information on member discount offers. Twice around the mall is one mile. When I first arrived, before the mall opened there were several people walking the mall. You can tell, because of their stride and focus. I suppose it’s a great place to keep up your walking during the winter months when it’s 20 degrees in the morning. The mall doors opens early so walkers can get in before the remaining stores even open up for business. That’s probably good, since it would be tempting to walk several times past the Dairy Queen and their soft serve ice cream.
The strollers consist of young families walking with small babies in strollers. In many cases the baby is being carried by grandma and the stroller is empty of filled with packages and coats. In some cases the stroller contained a screaming 1 or 2 year old, no doubt strapped in for misbehaving. I was surprised by the amount of small families I actually saw walking through the mall. I encounter so many retired and older folks in Prescott, that I sometimes forget that there are young families here.
People watching at the Prescott Gateway Mall
You can tell the people who didn’t want to engage as they walked far away from the vendor tables. It was fun watching the styles, logo t-shirts, Christmas sweaters and to see what shopping bags people were carrying. Mostly I saw Dillard’s bags, Sees Candies bags and an occasional Bath and Body Works bag. I met some nice folks and sold a few horse photo ornaments, some matted prints of my horse photos and a few blank note cards. It was a nice 5 hours hanging out at the mall.
If you missed a chance to buy my horse art at Prescott Gateway Mall, you can certainly check on my website or visit Arts Prescott Gallery on Whiskey Row in Prescott.
Jody Miller is a professional photographer specializing in Horse Photography, Equine Photography, and Equestrian photography. Her work can be viewed online here in her gallery section, and she is also featured at these Arizona Galleries: Arts Prescott Gallery CO-OWNER, Dragonfly Arts in Cottonwood and Coops Coffee House at Talking Rock Ranch, Prescott Family Diner.