Yuletide at the Village Brings Holiday Cheer and Hope to Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY — A festive three-day holiday market is now underway at The Other Side Village, a transformative community dedicated to helping people overcome homelessness.

The inaugural Yuletide at the Village runs through Saturday, offering holiday shopping, food trucks, live entertainment, and a Giving Tree—all while raising funds to support residents rebuilding their lives. The plaza has been transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with gingerbread houses, sparkling lights, and even Santa Claus.

Food trucks and local vendors will be on-site throughout the weekend, many staffed by Village residents themselves. For some, this marks a powerful turning point.

“Those are individuals that a month, two months, three months, five months ago were living on the street,” said Preston Cochrane, CEO of The Other Side Village. “Now they’re helping us. They’ve got a purpose—not only to help us raise money for the Village but also to save their life.”

Among those sharing their journey is resident Nahan Schaumkel, who spent years battling addiction and homelessness before finding stability through The Other Side Academy and Village.

“I’ve been five years fighting—fighting for my life,” Schaumkel said. “It helped me in a way that I can’t go back to my old habits.”

For Schaumkel and others, Yuletide at the Village is more than a holiday market—it’s a symbol of second chances.

Visitors are invited to contribute to the Giving Tree, donating items that directly benefit Village residents. All proceeds and donations will support housing, education, and community programs designed to empower individuals to live with accountability and self-reliance.

“We’re looking to really build up this community and help our residents start a new way of life,” Cochrane emphasized.

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