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On Wednesday, Nov. 29, the Burlingame community gathered at Mercy High School for the “Christmas at Kohl Mansion” event, hosted annually to kickstart the holiday season. The mansion was decorated with holiday lights and Christmas trees and hosted 65 vendors who sold items ranging from sweet treats to permanent anklets.
In addition to showcasing local small businesses, the event also aimed to raise money for the Mercy Alumnae Association to sponsor scholarships and various Mercy High School programs. The event provides desirable exposure for vendors, who are chosen a year in advance from a long waiting list.
“It’s definitely a priority of the school to keep people coming because Mercy survives and thrives off of Burlingame, but also people that come from further away to come see Kohl Mansion or students that come to attend the school,” Alumni Relations Officer Samantha Benz said.
An Alumnae Docent presented to the event attendees about the Mansion’s extensive history. For Mercy students and alumnae, tradition is a large part of the experience.
“I feel like a lot of different generations of Mercy girls, and just community members come here every year and it’s just fun to see new people and old friends and I just love the memories I make here every year,” Mercy student Anastasia Roeder said.
Attendees walked to and from the Morning Room and Great Hall, browsing stalls such as Cali Girl Boutique or Papergrins.
In the Mercy High School cafeteria, foods from chili to pesto pasta were sold, along with jewelry from the new local store Eleven and Luxe.
Mercy alumna Tara Graupera shared the same sentiment, agreeing that the memories of the event were one of the most special parts of her high school experience.
“I think it’s nice for people to be able to come and have some holiday festive cheer and support some local vendors,” Graupera said. “It’s a beautiful reminder of what a pretty school it is and what nice memories [I have] of all the time I spent here.”
While the event provides an opportunity for the Mercy community to get together, it also offers an important chance for the vendors to showcase their products.
“It’s a very profitable event for us, and it happens to be one that couldn’t be more beautiful and diverse. We always make sure that we come here every year,” Beverly’s English Toffee owner Carolyn Keddington said.
Alumna Olivia Zell prioritizes attending the event for the mansion’s beautiful decoration and the nostalgia of the venue.
“I remember coming here as a student,” Zell said. “It’s really special to come back here 10 years later, after my high school career. I always loved when it was decorated for Christmas, it’s so nostalgic for me to come back and see it.”
