If you’re already wondering what to bring to Thanksgiving, here’s a free and tasty way to spend part of Saturday: three Lubbock Market Street stores are turning into holiday showrooms, with local high school culinary and floral teams going head to head.
The United Family’s annual Entertaining Made Easy Expo runs Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to a news release shared by KCBD. It’s the second year local students have joined in.
Who’s competing, and where
Each school district gets its own store, so you can visit one or make a loop of all three:
- Lubbock ISD: Market Street at 50th Street and Indiana Avenue (3405 50th St.)
- Lubbock-Cooper ISD: Market Street at 98th Street and Quaker Avenue (4205 98th St.)
- Frenship ISD: Market Street at 19th Street and Quaker Avenue (4425 19th St.)
Store addresses are from Lubbock ISD’s 2025 expo announcement; the store-to-district pairings are from this year’s release.
Students from each district’s culinary and floral programs will set up their own displays and tablescapes, with original recipes, decorations and food built around holiday gatherings. The teams are playing for bragging rights, a $1,000 prize and custom chef coats or floral aprons from Market Street, the release says.
What’s in it for you
- Samples. Market Street says guests can try items such as Chantilly cake, a butter pecan cheese ball and sausage balls, along with samples from store departments.
- Ideas. Store teams and students will show artisan breads, custom party trays and holiday baked goods meant to take some stress out of hosting.
- A vote. Guests can vote for their favorite school district’s display.
- A prize. Attendees can enter for a chance to win a $250 gift card.
“The Entertaining Made Easy Expo gives our teams an opportunity to share holiday inspiration with guests, while also highlighting the incredible talent of local culinary and floral students,” Chris James, market vice president of operations for The United Family, said in the release.
Why it’s worth a stop
Part of the fun is seeing what Lubbock-area students can do. Last year, Lubbock ISD’s teams came from the culinary arts program at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center and the floral design program at the AgriSTEM Complex, and their recipe cards carried QR codes linking to student-made how-to videos, the district said in 2025. If you have a student in one of these programs, or you just like rooting for the home team, your vote counts.
Plan your Saturday
- When: Saturday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cost: The release lists no admission fee; samples, voting and the gift card drawing happen in the stores.
- Pair it with: The Lubbock Children’s Business Fair runs 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the same day at the Science Spectrum, per KCBD. See our full weekend guide for more.
Sources
- KCBD (The United Family news release), Nov. 11, 2026: https://www.kcbd.com/2026/11/11/entertaining-made-easy-expo-returns-lubbock/
- KCBD (Lubbock ISD news release), Nov. 9, 2025: https://www.kcbd.com/2025/11/09/lisd-culinary-arts-floral-design-students-compete-1k-prize-annual-holiday-expo/
- The United Family press room (2025 release): https://press.theunitedfamily.com/news/for-immediate-release-entertaining-made-easy-expo-returns-to-lubbock-market-street-locations-with-new-twist
