Looking for homemade gifts for holiday giving? Here’s a listing of holiday fairs and open houses of which the Times is aware:
Craft, bake sale
A Craft Fair and Bake Sale will take place Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church, 488 Essex Ave. in Gloucester. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Holy Family Fair
Santa will once again be visiting Holy Family Parish’s annual Christmas Fair — the parish’s biggest fundraising event of the year — on Saturday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. when St. Ann Church Hall is stocked with seasonal goodies including homemade cookies, baked goods. Christmas greens and craft tables, “Bea” raffle table with over 40 prizes, Basket Wheel, raffle tickets for prizes including cash, Apple iPad, handmade crochet queen quilt. Also, Lenox china, scratch tickets, hand-made oar painted by Sam Nigro, fried dough, fish chowder, hamburgers, hotdogs, and more from the kitchen. The fair’s big Basket Wheel is also a big money-maker. Parishioners create and donate $25 theme baskets filled with goodies, and drop at the parish, 160 Prospect St., Gloucester, by Wednesday, Nov. 20. For more information or volunteer to create a basket, or bake cookies, contact Lydia Bertolino at 978-281-4279 or bertolino4@msn.com.
Village Fair
St John’s annual Village Fair is set for Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring the Saintly Sweets Bake Shop, cookies by the pound, jams and jellies, holiday decorations, raffles for gift cards and VIP Bruins tickets, handmade crafts, silent auction and vintage jewelry. New this year is a free craft table for children. The Thrift Shop and Regal Rummage will be open with festive holiday offerings, and visitors may enjoy a fish chowder luncheon.
Visitors will have the chance to bid on a handmade Victorian doll house built by parishioner Maryann Tapiro. The house has three stories, six rooms and an attic, two staircases, a ladder, a covered front porch and a turret.
“It is now called The Carmel House. Carmel was my mother’s name and means ‘Vineyard of God.’ It was made in her memory as well as very fond memories of all the wonderful times my family had vacationing in Carmel, California, a place we all loved,” Tapito said.
Tapiro hopes someone will enjoy painting, furnishing, and decorating the house to make it their own. Bidding will start at $125.
The church, located at 48 Middle St. is handicapped accessible, with parking at 33 Washington St. Admission is free. The first 100 attendees will receive a gift. Visa and MasterCard accepted. For more information, please contact St. John’s church office at 978-283-1708.
Fair, yard sale
On Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sheedy Park will hold its annual Christmas Fair and Yard Sale, with antiques, artworks, baked goods, collectibles, crafts, custome made ceramic items, handmade baby blankets, quits, jewelry, handmade knitted items, used and unused yards sale items and 50/50 raffle.
Holiday Market
A Rockport Holiday Market will be held this Sunday, Nov. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Pigeon Cove Circle, at 6 Breakwater Ave., in Rockport. There will be local vendors, live music and hot food. It is an opportunity to reconnect with some vendors from the Rockport Farmers Market among others. For information, visit: http://rockportexchange.org.
Holiday Market
DANVERS — Parcels will host a Holiday Market at the Liberty Tree Mall, 100 Independence Way, Danvers, on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parcels is a unique store selling products made by, or sold through companies owned by, people with disabilities or autism. The store is staffed with individuals served by Northeast Arc. The holiday market will consist of over 30 artists/entrepreneurs with disabilities or autism offering goods as well as a visit by Santa. The event will also include live music: TriTown Rock Band at 10:30 a.m., Patrick Linehan at noon, Frankie Bonsignore at 1p.m., and DJ Jazzy Jacob spinning tunes throughout the day.
Holiday Auction
MARBLEHEAD — The annual holiday online auction of the North Shore Civic Ballet (NSCB), a nonprofit dance company based in Marblehead, runs through 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at www.biddingforgood.com/ballet. Proceeds support dancers with the training and resources to study in the North Shore region. Bid on a range of items including gift cards for local retailors and restaurants. Donations of gift cards may be dropped off at the NSCB’s home at the Marblehead School of Ballet, 115 Pleasant St. in Marblehead, or call 781-631-6262. Financial contributions may be made directly to the ballet company. The NCSB is a 501 © 3, tax-exempt organization and all contributions are tax-deductible as permissible by law. For details, visit http://marbleheadschoolofballet.com/the-company/.
Christmas Bazaar
ROCKPORT — The First Congregational Church of Rockport is holding its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. On sale will be gift baskets, baked goods, jewelry, Christmas Past treasures, hand-knit items, and an assortment of winter berries, silver dollars and greens. There will also be a luncheon and regifting table. The church, 12 School St. in Rockport, is handicapped accessible.
Jul Fest
ROCKPORT — The Nordic Christmas celebration, Jul Fest, will be celebrated at Spiran Lodge, corner of Broadway and School Street in Rockport, on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. It will include the St. Lucia festival, holiday music, and lunch, and a selection of Nordic foods including nisu, meats, herring, cheeses will be on sale. Greens and Nordic gifts and linens will also be for sale.