What makes an event a time-honored tradition? For Wye Parish’s Christmas Bazaar, the answer is that for 50 years the Bazaar has dependably filled a unique need. Year in and year out, it has been the place where Shore residents begin their holiday shopping and find those very special handmade Christmas presents and decorations. Always on the first Saturday in November, this year’s Bazaar is on November 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds and in the Parish Hall of Old Wye Church, 14114 Old Wye Mills Rd. (Rt. 662) in Wye Mills.
There are more handmade items than ever in the Bazaar’s Golden Anniversary year – crocheted hats and scarves, handmade mittens, dried flower stationery, jams, jellies, and relishes, unique Christmas ornaments, live decorations and plants — to mention only a few. Back this year will be the always-popular decorated Christmas trees ready to take home. Many people find just the right gifts at the Bazaar’s Petite Boutique or the Gently-used Jewelry Table. For the book-lovers on your list, there will be bargain-priced gift books, cook books, and Christmas books for adults as well as children. And participating in the Silent Auction can add excitement to your Christmas shopping!
Outside on the Church grounds, a beautiful hand-crafted cider press will used to provide fresh cider samples to enjoy. You or your child can even help with the pressing and experience the old-time fun of making apple cider. Homemade apple pies will be for sale as well as many other baked goods, including Smith Island cake. A soup and sandwiches lunch, prepared by the ladies of the Church, will be served in the Parish Hall. An outdoor kitchen, staffed by the Parish gentlemen, will be serving up lunch as well. There will be tours of the beautiful, historic (1721) Old Wye Church, where throughout the day there will be performances by the Wye Choral Scholars, mezzo soprano Bonnie Forgacs and Wye Parish organist, Amy Morgan Kuhn.
The Bazaar is presented by Wye Parish’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and is chaired this year by Margery Hafner. The proceeds go to the Parish’s outreach programs and to selected capital projects of the Parish. For more information, call the Church Office at 410.827.8484.
In photo: Every year for 50 years, the women of Wye Parish have made hand-crafted gift items and Christmas decorations to sell at the Annual Christmas Bazaar. The proceeds from the Bazaar go to the upkeep of Old Wye Church in Wye Mills and St. Luke’s Chapel in Queenstown and to their outreach programs. Above, Joan Hennessey of Centreville, left, and Jill Compton of Grasonville, right, pack up some hand-made presents for a shopper at last year’s Bazaar. This year the Bazaar will be on Saturday, November 2.