JACKSON – Emanuele Fontanini, of the House of Fontanini from Bagni di Lucca, Italy, will visit the Carmelite Gift Shop on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 2 – 5 p.m. as part of his 2015 Nativity tour in the United States.
Carmelite Sister Donna Marie Degnan said she is delighted to have the president of the House of Fontanini visit again the shop to autograph figures and chat with collectors and attendees.
The gift shop is being decorated with Christmas trees, ornaments and gifts for this event which will be part of the weekend open house and bake sale that will run until Sunday, Dec. 20.
Sister Degnan said this visit is very special since the members of the Fontanini family usually chose only around 10 stores to visit during the Christmas season and again they have selected the Carmelite Gift Shop for one of their tour stops. In 2013, Stefano Fontanini visited the store and Emanuele came in 2011.
The gift shop will also be among one of the retail stores that will carry the 2015 Exclusive Tour Figure, Dominic.
Sister Degnan said that those who can’t attend the day of Emanuele Fontanini’s visit, they can purchase the items ahead of time and leave them at the store to be signed by him during his visit and pick them up at their convenience.
Emanuele Fontanini is the fourth generation head of his family’s business, which has been creating nativities and sculptures since 1908. Fontanini Nativities are comprised of lifelike hand-painted figures and historically researched structures in eight different sizes that together present an extraordinary step back in time to biblical Bethlehem.
Christmas shoppers are also invited to view the variety of items available to decorate their homes, including ornaments, nativities and Santas.
On Saturdays, the store opens from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1- 4 p.m. The Carmelite Gift Shop is located on 2155 Terry Road in Jackson. For more information call 601-373-3412.