My Journey: From the Air Force to Promoter to Christmas City
Description
Holiday magic is better when it has a mission. We pull back the curtain on the Ron Myers Christmas City Gift Show and trace its unlikely rise from a post–Air Force leap of faith to a 42-year Gulf Coast tradition that funds ministries, lifts small businesses, and welcomes thousands into a thoughtfully designed shopping experience.
We start with the spark: a first-time event that proved ideas can move people, then the steady steps that followed—flea markets, a seasonal pivot, and a prayerful leap to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Along the way, we break down what makes Christmas City work at scale: 300+ curated booths, Breakfast with Santa for families, and the adults-only Shopper’s Paradise with live music, wine, and a relaxed pace. Even operational tweaks like widening aisles in 2020 turned a crisis constraint into a permanent comfort, reshaping how guests browse, connect with vendors, and make memories.
Beyond the booths, we explore impact. Christmas City helps fund Ron Myers Ministries, supporting Christian rehab centers, anti-trafficking efforts, missions, and values-driven media. It also delivers a timely economic boost after the summer season, filling hotels and restaurants and earning recognition as a top 20 tourism event in the Southeast. Vendors benefit from curation that values quality and variety, a selection process that raises the bar, and a community vibe that turns door prizes and promo exchanges into shared momentum.
Threaded through the story is a clear throughline of faith, perseverance, and purpose. Ron talks candidly about setbacks—from hurricanes to pandemics—and the steady commitment that kept the vision alive. For entrepreneurs and dreamers, this is a blueprint: start where you are, serve people well, and build systems that honor both experience and impact.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves meaningful holiday traditions, and leave a review to help others find the show. What would you ask Ron about the “secret sauce” that keeps a community coming back year after year?
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