The 2013 Sugarplum Festival opens Thursday night at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. Marketing director Jane Graves says for thousands of area residents it’s the start of the Christmas shopping season. 45 vendors from three states will display unique gift items from food to jewelry.

The Sugarplum Festival is also the largest single fundraiser of the year for the art museum, raising about $30,000. It opens with a Preview Party from 5:30 until 8 Thursday evening, reservations required. Friday it’s open all day, from 10 until 8, with a winetasting event from 5:30 until 7:30. Saturday’s hours are 10 to 4.