The idea for a new Carlton Holiday Market grew as organically as the vegetables grown on many farms around Carlton County, according to Emily Fuerste Swanson.

From the three original events - the VFW Christmas auction, A Touch of Scandinavia Bazaar at Bethesda Lutheran and the holiday market at Oldenburg House - an entire day's worth of activities has been coordinated across the city with plenty of entertainment to boot.

"We figured it would be more fun and each event would help the other," Swanson said. "Then it just gathered steam and all the other businesses came in and now it's all over Carlton."

Participating businesses, organizations and churches are offering sales and specials or fun activities for families. Find locally made or grown art, crafts, gift certificates, baked goods, preserves, honey, maple syrup, wild rice, meat, soaps and balms, candles, leather goods, jewelry, folk art, ornaments, pottery, clothing and household items. Enjoy a craft and movie at the library, an art reception at Magnolia Cafe, food, arts and crafts at Gateway goods, Oldenburg House, Bethesda and Presbyterian churches. Other participating businesses include Carlton Meat and Grocery, Streetcar Kitchen and

Pub, the VFW, The Green House,

CreativEdge, the VFW and Third Base - where they are giving away free wild rice soup at noon.

In addition to entertainment offered at places like Oldenburg House, where they'll have holiday jazz from 1-3 p.m., and a band at Third Base Bar at 9 p.m., there will be multiple "pop-up" performances. Look for Fred Keller, Spencer Walton and Mary Hagen, along with the Grinch.The Cloquet Madrigals will perform songs between 10 a.m. and noon at random locations. The Cloquet third-grade choir will do the same between 1-3 p.m.

County Seat Theater's Rick Breuer will give pop-up performances from his one-man show "One Christmas Carol" between 3-5 p.m.

The holiday market is also raising money for charity: Welcome Home, which provides essentials for children, and the VFW toy drive. Look for Holiday Market tote bags - Sappi underwrote the costs - for sale to raise money for both charities. Area residents are also encouraged to bring new toys, socks and mittens for Carlton County kids in need.