Members of the school community and beyond appeared to get into the winter spirit with lively entertainment, vendors and friends during West Shore’s Festivus Marketplace held Friday after school.

Chamber Chorus was among the many groups to take the stage.

“[Last year], I was in mixed chorus, so this was my first opportunity performing [at Festivus],” junior Melanie TeMaat said.

New events included a choir performance from a local elementary school and a table sponsored by National Honor Society which was dedicated to making cards for the military troops abroad.

“I think it was a great success,” senior and NHS president Mary-Elizabeth Jobson said. “We had a whole lot of people make cards, including younger kids, which was especially cool. And we actually shared the idea with NEHS and NAHS so I see no reason why it won’t happen again next year.”

According to captain Erin Sheridan, the dance team was ready for its performance.

“We’ve been working since the beginning of the school year on the dances that we learned over summer at our dance camp, and it’s really great to show off what we finally have been working so hard on for the school,” the senior said.

The Future Problem Solving club set up a booth at Festivus selling West Shore cups for $5 as a fund-raiser.

“I love the idea of the cups because its something I hadn’t actually seen at West Shore before, and you know most people have five bucks to donate to a good cause,” Heather Deel, the FPS Coach, said. “I knew there would be a lot of people at Festivus, so it just seemed like it would be a good chance to get out with the community and reach people we wouldn’t ordinarily see during the school day.”

For FPS, the Festivus fund-raiser was successful.

“With any luck, we will take home a couple hundred dollars,” Deel said. “I would definitely recommend [other clubs] participating at Festivus because … everyone is in a good mood, everyone is happy and everybody is willing to put a hand in their check book.”

Many vendors were represented at Festivus, including everything from Mary Kay make-up to Olympic Realty in the winter-themed cafeteria. Outside in the courtyard, tables displayed bake goods, popcorn, pizza and Chick-fil-a, and more.

By Daphna Krause