Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Get ready for some holiday shopping at the 39th annual Lit’l Bita Christmas, hosted by the Arkansas State University Red Wolves Foundation, and scheduled for the second weekend in November.

According to the Arkansas State Foundation website, the event has grown into one of the largest arts and crafts shows in the midsouth region.

This event brings in roughly 10,000 people annually from Northeast Arkansas and throughout the mid-South to Jonesboro to support local arts and craft vendors, James DeBerry, A-State Red Wolves Foundation ticketing and operations director, said.

“We currently have about 160 vendors and counting booked for this year’s show. Shoppers can expect to find a wide variety of great arts and crafts items, including door hangers, custom woodwork, seasonal crafts, holiday decorations, and, of course, Santa,” DeBerry said.

The show was originally started by Coach Bill Templeton in 1987 as a way to help fund scholarship athletes at A-State through the Red Wolves Foundation, he said. It has been held on the second weekend in November ever since.

“This is a great event as it allows us to engage with a different part of the community than we do on a day-to-day basis,” DeBerry said. “Proceeds go to directly fund student-athlete scholarships.”

Lit’l Bita Christmas will be Friday, Nov. 7, from noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First National Bank Arena, located at 217 Olympic Drive on the A-State campus.

Day passes are $5 and weekend passes are $12. Kids 12 and under get in free.

While parking will be free on Friday and Sunday, DeBerry noted that, due to the conflicting football game on Saturday, parking will cost $10 only up until kickoff.

“Since paid parking for football is $10 cash, we are going to follow suit for Lit’l Bita Christmas until kickoff and then parking will be free once again,” he said.

READ MORE: First National Bank Arena to go fully cashless Oct. 1

Walk-up ticket sales and concessions inside the arena will be cashless to comply with First National Bank Arena’s cashless policy. The arena’s clear bag policy will be in place; however, DeBerry said strollers and wagons will be allowed.

To learn more information about Lit’l Bita Christmas, visit the Arkansas State Foundation website, contact the Red Wolves Foundation at (870) 972-2401, or email litlbitachristmas@gmail.com.