Muncie’s Minnetrista Museums and Gardens hosted its annual Enchanted Luminaria Walk to kick off the holiday season Dec. 1. Despite the mucky weather, a drizzling rain and night fog were no match for the dazzling lights of the Minnetrista which illuminated the beaming expressions of the Munice community, ready to celebrate the holidays.
The event welcomes all types of families, students and friends—some of whom were honoring tradition but others, like Muncie Central Student Hope Wolfeattended the event for the first time as part of the chorus performing at the event. Her expectations were fulfilled—even exceeded.
“The setup is actually not what I was expecting…It’s way better,” said Wolfe.
Makk Sisk, third-year Theater Education major at Ball State, started coming to the Minnetrista during their summer farmer’s market event and came back to celebrate the colder weather for the first time.
![Minnetrista 6.JPG](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/bsd/3c5d965e-001d-4433-b8ed-fb5ef8697d12.sized-1000x1000.jpg?w=1000&dpr=2)
“I didn’t expect there to be 40 acres of lights! I’m excited to explore that,” she said.
The colorfully lit trails lead to the central hub of The Orchard Shop and Minnetrista Museum space, which served as a gathering spot for local business owners and crafters to sell their handmade goods to eager visitors sipping from hot cider cups.
“I didn’t know there was going to be a market [inside], so that was a happy surprise,” Sisk said.t allows all the vendors to be able to make money and share their products with the community.”
Vendor Mary Vozenilek, owner of Littlebird Pottery and Ball State Graduate Student, said, it is important to have spaces for crafters to sell their work.
“The stuff that I make, I can sell…[which] helps pay my rent,” Vozenilek said.
Vozenilek is a homebody and enjoys having access to a venue for people to buy and sell their goods to locals.
“Muncie doesn’t have a lot of places that I would personally attend…so this is nice,” she said.
![Minnestrista 2.JPG](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/bsd/f9af56a3-416c-4f38-b9bb-0038b8a71d28.sized-1000x1000.jpg?w=1000&dpr=2)
While the main festivities of The Enchanted Luminaria Walk only lasted through December 2nd, people looking for other events around the Muncie community this holiday season can visit Delaware County’s Events Bureau.
Contact Katherine Hill with comments at katherine.hill@bsu.edu
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