By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— If you need to mark a few people off your Christmas list, Birmingham Boutique Blowout is returning to the Pelham Civic Complex Dec. 6 just in time for holiday shopping.

More than 50 local vendors from the Alabama area will be selling clothing, jewelry, gift items and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jessie Barnhill, event coordinator, said about half the boutiques are repeat vendors and they will feature several new shops as well.

“There are several new vendors that I am hoping to stop and shop at,” Barnhill said. “I think we have a very great crowd.”

There will be several giveaways available before the blowout Sunday, equaling close to $2,000, and there will also be VIP wristbands available. For $5, guests can gain a wristband for discounts at most of the vendors.

This event is also supporting the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, so those attendees who bring in a donation will receive a buy-one-get-one wristband.

“Last time, overall we saw about 2,000 people,” Barnhill said. “We hope that even though this is just a one day event, we hope to see even more.”

With hot chocolate and Christmas music setting the mood for the holiday season, Barnhill thinks they will easily see more guests than the last Boutique Blowout in October. This will be the sixth blowout the Barnhills have hosted.

Barnhill and her husband, Billy, originally decided to plan the Birmingham Boutique Blowout for the many boutiques in the Greater Birmingham that do not have their own storefront.

Barnhill said this event gives those boutiques the opportunity to network, meet customers and get their name out there.

“We really like the idea of bringing together local businesses, especially those owned by women,” Jessie Barnhill said. “This gives them an opportunity to make money and to network.”

The Boutique Blowout has also allowed boutiques to team up with each other to gain publicity. Barnhill said Highland Candle, one of the vendors at the last event, teamed up with another boutique with a shop. Now the store carries Highland Candle’s inventory.

“We’ve refined our process a lot and made it a lot easier for vendors and shoppers,” Jessie said. “Our publicity has just taken off, so now people know our name and look forward to it.”

For more information, visit Boutiqueblowout.org.