You are warmly invited to join us for an evening of shopping from local artisans and merchants. Step into the gorgeous space at The Starting Gate at GreatHorse and settle in with a refreshing cocktail from the bar. Begin your holiday shopping as you peruse our curated selection of 30 vendors. Visit our decorative photo booth to get your picture taken (our gift to you) and enjoy some live music as you sit by the warm fire.
Holiday en Blanc is a unique shopping experience designed to celebrate and support our community. We’re delighted to have you join us for an unforgettable evening. Guests are encouraged to dress up in all-white attire to add to the “en Blanc” theme (it’s not required, but it’s a lot more fun)!
A cash bar with a menu of savory bites will be available for purchase. With your ticket purchase, you will receive a free tote bag plus a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the YWCA. We encourage you to reserve tickets as early as possible. Complimentary valet parking will be available for all guests.
Meet Our 2021 Vendors
BLINK by BETH MILLER
Positivity and Life Balance have always deeply resonated with Beth which inspired her newest collection – The Grateful Eye™. Through this sophisticated line of apparel, fine jewelry, accessories, home goods, spa items, handbags, and totes — she hopes to share and spread joy.
Art by Alyssa
A unique collection of gifts and accessories made using imagery from Alyssa Watters’ original oil paintings. Everything is designed by Alyssa herself and created in her studio in Beverly MA. Some of her most popular items are her calendars, both Poster and Desktop sized, as well as her sets of ceramic tile coasters.
Annie’s Candles 01095
All-natural hand-poured soy candles in unique versatile vessels. Choose from a selection of popular seasonal scents.
ChocAllure
ChocAllure creates exhilarating and memorable chocolate experiences. Each creation is crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients that deliver decadent flavors and is so beautiful, you’re sure to savor every single bite! They make a beautiful and delicious gift for your friends and family (as well as yourself)!
BEAUTYCOUNTER
One by one, we are leading a movement to a future where all beauty is clean beauty. We are powered by people, and our collective mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Formulate, advocate, & educate—that’s our motto for creating clean beauty products that truly perform while holding ourselves to unparalleled standards of safety. Why? It’s really this simple: beauty should be good for you.
Caren & Co
A curated selection of contemporary women’s clothing and accessories. Located in Longmeadow MA, Caren & Co. is a fashion boutique for every woman.
BOHO Chocolate
Award-Winning Bean-to-Bar Chocolate made from scratch. Organic Chocolate that is socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable. BOHO Chocolate is dedicated to creating exquisite tasting chocolate in small batches from scratch. From sorting cacao beans, roasting, winnowing, grinding, conching, tempering, to tasting . . . they’re truly master chocolatiers.
Crunchy Diva Designs
Inspired by nature and the world around her, Heather creates unique jewelry out of hand-selected stones, minerals, and other natural materials. As a professional designer and merchandiser, this “Crunchy Diva” certainly has an eye for style. Using a combination of raw materials and reclaimed objects assures that Heather’s designs are one-of-a-kind and timeless.
Dena Pavone Collection
Inspired by a family trip to Italy, we offer custom, handcrafted sandals, wedges, and accessories from the Amalfi Coast — using the finest
Italian leathers and with signature Swarovski Crystal elements. They offer many custom options that their expert stylist, Dena, will guide
you through. They also have many beautiful in-stock options for holiday gifts.
Birch & Ivory
Handmade leather goods including bags, wallets, and accessories. Using the highest quality materials, meticulous loving care is poured into each and every piece — a beautifully made collection that will last you a lifetime. Locally made in Hampden, Massachusetts, all designs are created by the talented Karen Ford. You’re sure to appreciate her gorgeous one-of-a-kind works of art.
Morgan Dyer
Morgan’s paintings are comprised of pools of paint that are layered over and over again ending in ribbons of color and texture intertwined to achieve an energetic color field. The process from start to finish can reveal pouring pools of pigment onto the canvas mimicking forms in nature such as puddles, the moving tide, melting ice, intersections of rock, and more. Her studio is situated on Bearskin Neck in Rockport MA, overlooking the harbor.
Maxine Lorenzo Designs
Handcrafted one-of-a-kind handbags, boho bags, wristlets, and clutches. Designed and made by Gayle Lyons using beautiful cloth fabrics, leathers, vegan leathers, and various accessories.
Lake Road Living
Lake Road Living is a premier fashion boutique located in Sturbridge, MA featuring a curated collection of women’s clothing, local artisan jewelry, soy candles, pottery, and small gifts. Find polished styles for everyday life from the carefully selected brands that offer quality clothing whether you are headed to work, attending a wedding, or enjoying a casual gathering with friends… we have styles for every occasion.
Pam's Pashminas
Pam’s Pashminas is a homegrown business based out of Wellesley MA. Pam will be featuring her original floral and botanical collection of scarves and shawls, many of which incorporate her own photography of nature and her travels. She produces her beautiful images on natural and sustainable fibers such as merino wool, cotton, cashmere, and silk.
Solar Flair
Family-owned and operated, Solar Flair is a mobile boutique shop selling a well-curated collection of sunglasses and blue-light lenses. Based out of Boston, MA, they’re famous for their modular display that’s transported throughout the city via bicycle. They showcase a variety of designs that are sure to appeal to the whole family — the perfect holiday stocking stuffer!
navyBLEU
Erin Hornyak started navyBLEU out of a love for all things navy and created an online shopping experience for customers like herself who love navy & french bleu hues in modern preppy designs. Erin carefully selects beautiful, high-quality items that reflect her classic yet modern lifestyle, including her private label and several beloved brands — timeless staples for all seasons.
Wood's Vermont Maple Syrup
Family-owned and operated establishment for over 100 years, Wood’s Vermont Maple Syrup produces their own maple syrup and put some of it into empty bourbon and empty rum barrels and leave it for several months. They also make maple cream, as well as, smoked maple syrup and many other goodies.
Serve Kindness
Handblown glass vessels for the home with a signature design of a bowl with a stunning, vibrantly colored interior and a brilliant white exterior. Made in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, a Serve Kindness bowl, vase, or reed diffuser represents the very best of American craftsmanship. 10% of every purchase will be donated to a charity serving kindness in the community.
The Salty Cottage
Bold graphic designer pillows handmade using top-stitched wool felt and heavyweight cotton canvas. Our colorful designs are inspired by the coastal New England lifestyle, with ski & lake themes as well as coastal, nautical, dogs, and sports motifs. All pillows are made on Boston’s North Shore with attention to detail and a contemporary spin on classic New England themes.
Simply Sweet
Small batch locally made Peanut Brittle, Sea Salt Caramels, English Toffee, and Cashew Turtles.
TRE Olive
An award-winning olive company, TRE Olive is a family business based in East Longmeadow, MA. Their delicious olive oil is sourced solely from their family farm located in the Calabria region of Southern Italy. You’re sure to appreciate their custom gift boxes with olive oil, balsamic vinegars, olives, spreads, Italian wines, and more.
Tasteful Skin
What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. Tasteful Skin™ healing balms, moisturizing sanitizers, and therapeutic bath salt blends are made with all-natural plant-based ingredients and infused with clinical-grade essential oils — like food for your skin. Owners, Susan & Jessica, aim to elevate everyday moments of skin-care and self-care.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Meet Your Hosts
Natives to the area and founders of Tasteful Skin (all-natural therapeutic skincare) and Tasteful Trips (bespoke culinary retreats), Susan Manoussoff & Jessica Brand share a passion for spreading nourishment and kindness to oneself and to others. This includes their loyal customers, our precious planet, and our community of fellow entrepreneurs.
Together, they designed an event to celebrate local makers and business owners while supporting the YWCA. It’s a pleasure to have you join us and contribute to a magical evening of connection and commerce.
About the Venue
Welcome
With its impeccable architecture and a gorgeous view of the valley, The Starting Gate is the perfect space to host an unforgettable event. Our Holiday en Blanc event will be hosted indoors overlooking the sunset.
Parking
Complimentary Valet Parking is available for all guests. As you enter the estate, you’ll pass the Clubhouse on the left and head toward The Starting Gate building. Pull your car around to the main entrance and a valet will be there to greet you.
Event Access
The main entrance to the building is located beneath the porte-cochere. As you enter, visit the welcoming table to process your tickets and receive your free tote bag. Public restrooms are located inside. Enjoy!
Safety Protocols
To ensure a socially safe event, the number of tickets available for shoppers is limited to 250 attendees. Extra face covers and sanitizing stations will be available.
Our Non-Profit Partner
With your ticket purchase, we’re honored to be donating a portion of the proceeds to our community YWCA. Thank you for your contribution and support!
If you’d like to make an additional donation
or get involved in their program, click here.
YWCA Mission
THE YWCA OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS IS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.
YWCA Services
For 150 years the YWCA has been dedicated to providing services to the women of Western Massachusetts. We began by providing boarding houses for young working women. Today, service is still the heart of what we do.
Today’s YWCA delivers groundbreaking programs offering shelter, support, and self-sufficiency for the women and girls in our community. From safe places for battered women and their children to job training for young adults, the YWCA responds with commitment and thoroughness.
It’s a pledge we made a long time ago: Until women have what they need, we’ll remain an innovative and reliable source of quality services.
A Tasteful Event is part of the Tasteful Brands family of businesses where we focus on cultivating goodness for oneself, our community, and our planet. Creating sustainable products, unique experiences, and delicious memories is our passion. We’re delighted that you’re here, and we invite you to learn more about our sister companies.
