Get into the festive spirit and shop for unique gifts at the Marietta Community House Christmas Market. The market will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3, both inside the Marietta Community House, 264 W. Market St., and in the studio space behind the building.

"It's holiday shopping at its finest," said Joe Clark, president of the board of the Marietta Community House. "There are handcrafted items from local artisans, sweet treats and light lunch."

More than 18 vendors will be featured, selling a variety of items such as Nissley wines, fudge, cakes, cheese, pottery, wooden toys, candles and organic herbal products. Original art, including oils, watercolors and pen and ink drawings, will also be for sale.

Clark explained that the market is set up to be a warm and inviting environment, with candlelit ambience throughout the space. It's a nice place to stop while people are participating in the Marietta Candlelight Tour of Homes happening the same day, he remarked.

Proceeds from the Christmas Market will be used to maintain and improve the Marietta Community House.

The building has a long and important history in Marietta. Built in 1871 by Dr. John Huston for his nephew, the home remained a private residence until 1909, when it became a sanitarium that administered rabies vaccines to children. In 1919, as World War I was ending, Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Hiestand purchased the building and donated the house to the community of Marietta, dedicating it in the memory of their son, Lt. Benjamin Hiestand, who had died while serving in the military.

Over the years, the building has housed an American Legion post, a public library, a well-baby clinic, a soup kitchen and the Pennsylvania School for the Arts, among other organizations. Now a nonprofit organization, it serves as a wedding and special event venue, with a focus on a variety of community events throughout the year, including an annual Veterans Day celebration and a garden tour.

For more information on the Marietta Community House or the Christmas Market, visit https://mariettacommunityhouse.org or search for "The Marietta Community House" on Facebook.