Once Upon a Sugar Plum Market: Fort Bend Holiday Tradition Celebrates 25 Years of Giving Back
For many Fort Bend County families, the start of the holiday season is marked not by the first string of lights or the first Christmas song on the radio, but by the return of Sugar Plum Market — a longtime community tradition that blends holiday shopping with charitable giving and local connection.
This year, the event reaches a milestone as the 25th Annual Sugar Plum Market celebrates its silver anniversary with a storybook-inspired theme: “Once Upon a Sugar Plum Market.” Hosted by the Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL), the four-day holiday shopping event will return to Stafford Centre from Nov. 4-7, 2026, bringing together shoppers, local businesses, volunteers and nonprofit support efforts from across Fort Bend County.
More than just a seasonal market, the event has become one of Fort Bend County’s most recognizable community fundraisers, helping generate millions of dollars for local charitable organizations while creating a tradition many families revisit year after year.
A Fort Bend County Tradition With Lasting Community Impact
Since its debut in 2001, Sugar Plum Market has raised more than $5 million for nonprofit organizations throughout Fort Bend County, with proceeds supporting programs that serve local families, children, seniors and residents in need. Combined with other fundraising efforts, the Fort Bend Junior Service League has contributed more than $6 million back into the community since the organization’s founding.
That local impact remains at the center of the event’s mission as Fort Bend County continues to grow and evolve.
“We’re thrilled to unveil this year’s Sugar Plum Market theme: Once Upon a Sugar Plum,” shared Michelle Vargas, incoming FBJSL President for the 2026 Sugar Plum Market. “This year we ‘turn the page’ and celebrate 25 incredible years of Sugar Plum with amazing vendors, whimsical entertainment, photos with Santa, a return of our Fashion Show and much more!”
The 2026 Sugar Plum Market will also feature a Preview Night Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 4, offering attendees an early opportunity to shop and experience the event before public market days begin.
Shopping, Celebration and Giving Back in Fort Bend County
For residents across Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Stafford, Katy and surrounding communities, Sugar Plum Market has become more than a shopping destination. It is also a gathering place where neighbors reconnect, local makers and businesses gain visibility, and charitable giving becomes part of the holiday experience.
Visitors can expect a festive atmosphere filled with holiday décor, specialty vendors, gifts, seasonal treats, entertainment and family-friendly attractions. The return of the Fashion Show and opportunities for photos with Santa are expected to add to the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the event’s 25th anniversary.
Behind the scenes, dozens of Fort Bend Junior Service League volunteers spend months organizing the event — continuing a mission that began more than two decades ago when a group of local women recognized the growing needs of Fort Bend County and created an organization dedicated specifically to serving the community.
Today, FBJSL continues to focus on volunteerism, leadership development and philanthropy while supporting charitable organizations throughout the county through fundraising and service initiatives.
Volunteers, Leadership and a Legacy of Service
The 2026 Sugar Plum Market is being led by co-chairs Holly Barker, Darcholcia Easley, Molly Kolle, Jacquetta Madgett, Ursula McLendon and Stacey Schwab, all members of FBJSL who have already begun preparations for this year’s event.
The organization describes its mission as promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving Fort Bend County through trained volunteer leadership and charitable action. FBJSL also emphasizes values including cultural diversity, community impact, leadership development and strengthening support for local needs.
That mission has remained consistent even as Fort Bend County has transformed into one of the largest and most diverse counties in Texas.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Fort Bend County was among the fastest-growing counties in the nation. Community leaders and volunteers recognized that while many Houston-area organizations served the broader region, Fort Bend County needed a service organization focused specifically on local challenges and opportunities.
The Fort Bend Junior Service League was born from that vision — and 25 years later, Sugar Plum Market has become one of its most visible examples of community engagement in action.
Sponsorships, Raffle Donations and Community Support Opportunities
Businesses and residents interested in supporting the Sugar Plum Market can participate through sponsorships, underwriting opportunities and Premium Raffle donations. Organizers say community partnerships continue to play a major role in helping the event expand its charitable reach each year.
The event is hosted by the Fort Bend Junior Service League with Memorial Hermann Sugar Land serving as the Title Sponsor.
Additional details, ticket information and event updates can be found at sugarplummarket.com.
As the market prepares to celebrate its silver anniversary, organizers say the event remains rooted in the same purpose that launched it 25 years ago: neighbors coming together to strengthen the Fort Bend County community during the holiday season and beyond.
Residents can stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for additional Fort Bend County nonprofit and community coverage throughout the year.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
