One-of-a-kind gifts and decorations are a long-standing specialty at the Wye Parish Christmas Bazaar. It has been the place where each year for the past 52 years, smart shoppers have started their holiday shopping. The 53rd Annual Christmas Bazaar will take place on Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Parish Hall and Vestry Cottage of Old Wye Church, 14114 Old Wye Mills Rd. (Rt. 662) in Wye Mills.
Photo: Marie Edison of Queenstown, Sharon Butler of Easton, and Joan Hennessey of Centreville are pictured with some of the many carefully crafted items available at the 53rd Annual Christmas Bazaar.
The talented and dedicated women of the Church have been enjoyed working together and at home throughout the summer and into the fall, creating original handmade items. They have fashioned inexpensive unique holiday decorations for holiday tables and Christmas trees. New this year are hand-decorated glass “Cookies and Milk for Santa” sets. The Bazaar’s dried flower note cards and lavender wands are favorites for giving. In the Handmade Gifts Shop, lots of items can be found for winter wear, including knitted and crocheted scarves, mittens, and hats. The warm and attractive felted-wool, fleece-lined mittens that have been so popular for the last two years will be back in a large variety of colors and patterns.
Amaryllis and paper-whites – those living seasonal favorites that are so much fun to watch grow into decorative additions to the holiday home – will be available to enjoy or to give.
A popular place to find a special gift is the Silent Auction. Thoughtfully assembled and attractively arranged themed baskets, gift certificates for dinner at local restaurant, a needlepoint belt, bicycles, and a handmade quilt are just a few of the items that will be up for bidding.
Many shoppers make their first stop either at the Unique Boutique with its collectibles, crystal, and silver pieces, or at the Gently-Used Jewelry Table with its pins, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
The Vestry Cottage will once again be transformed into the Christmas Book Shop with as-new books at bargain prices and a wide variety of Christmas-themed books for adults and children.
Shoppers like to stop into Attic Treasures to check out the wide array of household goods – big and small – at bargain prices. There will be everything from kitchen items to lamps to larger pieces of furniture. It is always rewarding to find that “just-what-I’ve-been-looking-for” item among the Attic Treasures.
In the Sweet and Savory Shoppe, shoppers can find a wide variety of delightful cakes, cookies, candy and piesgood for eating now or freezing for later. There is always a selection of preserved jellies, jams and pickles.
Just about everyone who comes to the Bazaar looks forward to taking a shopping break to enjoy a home-cooked lunch in this festive setting. The Lunch Room menu includes the Eastern Shore favorites of chicken salad sandwiches, ham biscuits, soups including Maryland crab soup, and a selection of hot entrees. For dessert there is that Shore special, Smith Island cake.
Music lovers will like listening to the Wye Choral Scholars as they provide music for the season. Tours of the beautiful and historic (1726) Old Wye Church will be available during the Bazaar.
The Annual Christmas Bazaar owes its long history and devoted following to the ongoing talents and efforts of Wye Parish’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW). For more information, call the Church Office at 410.827.8488.
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