PENDLETON – Two weeks ago, Vicky Post, 53, had a light bulb idea of how to utilize the empty space in downtown Pendleton while awaiting for her dream community center.

Her idea: Open it to vendors.

“We had the open stores, and Christmas in Pendleton is such a big deal,” Post said.

Post and her husband, Bob, opened their three downtown shops to 24 local vendors Saturday during the annual event that began more than 20 years ago as an advertising vehicle for the mom-and-pop shops who have seen neighbors unable to survive times when people frequent superstores.

“I was given a few names of people, and they called their friends and they called their friends and here we are,” she said, gazing around the plethora of arts, crafts and antiques in her shop.

Post has been preparing the building for The Gathering, a community center that will eventually be open to children and seniors.

“Anything we can do to give the kids something to do, we should,” she said.

Among the vendors was Laura Belle Hudson, of Pendleton, who embroiders and sews everything from table runners to checkbook covers.

“I’ve sold more than I sold at the Heritage Fair,” she said.

Christmas in Pendleton began as a smaller event at The Flower Cart to bring in holiday business. Owner Diane Ashley started covering her shop’s floor with faux snow. It soon caught on and her neighbor shops joined in the fun of bringing Christmas to Pendleton early. It’s more of a community street fair now, with a parade, “snow ball” toss and Santa Claus.

Ashley said the event still serves as an advertising event for the local shops, who lost at least six of their neighbors over the last year.

“This is very valuable because this is how all of our stores get a lot of their business,” she said.

However the Christmas event doesn’t always bring much money on the second Sunday in November, but it does provide exposure for potential return customers. Ashley said some customers come back later to ask about special orders.

Rick Brown, lead technician at the PC-ER electronics shop, said he also has customers who revisit after Christmas in Pendleton.

“I was a little discouraged after the day last year,” he said. “But then we had people come in after and say they’d seen us at Christmas in Pendleton and they need something fixed.”