It is remarkable for a small community event to be popular for fifty-five consecutive years.  That is how long Wye Parish has held its Annual Christmas Bazaar, known by many over the years as the best place to begin holiday preparations.  From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, on the grounds and in the Parish Hall and Vestry Cottage of Old Wye Church, the Women of Wye Parish once again welcome the public to this harbinger of the holiday season.  Old Wye is located at 14114 Old Wye Mills Road (Rt 662) in Wye Mills, MD.

Handmade gifts are always appealing, and the women of the Church have been working throughout the summer and into the fall, creating knitted and crocheted infinity scarves, afghans, and other items. New this year in the Creative Crafts Shop are festive centerpieces for your Thanksgiving and Christmas tables.  And there are always delightful original decorations for your tree.

The Gently-Used Jewelry Table is a popular place to find unique, bargain-priced earrings, bracelets, pins and necklaces for someone special or for yourself.  Nearby is the Unique Boutique, which features a variety of collectibles, and silver, crystal and china items – again at bargain prices.

This year’s Silent Auction offers antique decoys, white wicker chairs, settees, and tables, as well as a host of gift items, from baskets of food, wine, and beer to handmade coats for some lucky dogs.  Bazaar-goers need to watch the clock as bidding on Silent Auction items will close at 2 p.m.

Outside in the Vestry Cottage is a wide variety of books that are in good enough condition to give as presents.  Featured are special editions, beloved children’s stories, and beautiful coffee table books as well as books about Christmas cooking and crafts.  Outside, too, under the big tent is Attic Treasures with its great array of household items from utensils to lamps and tables.

Food is an important part of a special event, and the Bazaar has food for gifts, food to take home, and food to enjoy as you take a break from shopping by visiting the Holiday Cafe. The Cafe will serve ham biscuits starting at opening time and, for lunch, Shore Chicken Salad, a hot entree, and a choice of soups.  While parents shop or enjoy lunch, there will be supervised holiday crafts available for their children.

The Sweet and Savory Shoppe has plentiful home-baked goods including pies, cookies and cakes.  Shoppers always seem to head for the jellies, jams, pickles and other special treats made and preserved by the ladies of the Church.  They make great gifts!

Outside, all day, coffee (free starting at 8:30) is available.  Also outside, and always an attention- getter, is fresh cider pressed during the Bazaar by the Boy Scouts on a locally hand-crafted cherry wood cider press.

Wye Parish’s ECW (Episcopal Church Women) are the people responsible for making the Christmas Bazaar a popular and worthwhile event with a long history and loyal following. The proceeds from the Bazaar support the Parish’s outreach programs and selected capital projects of the Parish.   For more information, call the Parish Office at 410.827.8484.

For fifty years, Shore residents have come to Wye Parish’s old-fashioned Christmas Bazaar to begin their holiday shopping or to find that special handmade present or decoration. As it begins its second half-century, the 51st Bazaar will add Harvest-themed items to its traditional Christmas offerings.

The Harvest and Holiday Bazaar will take place on Saturday, November 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds and in the Parish Hall and Vestry Cottage of Old Wye Church, 14114 Old Wye Mills Rd. (Rt. 662) in Wye Mills.

The women of the Church have been working throughout the summer and into the fall, creating original, handmade items. In the Heart and Handmade Shop, there will be both autumn and Christmas decorations including wreaths and ornaments. Their handmade mittens, scarves and other items – one of a kind gifts – are always very popular.
The Garden Nook will feature natural decorations and gifts, including herbs, bulbs, amaryllis and paperwhites planted in unique containers.

Many people will find just the right gift at the Petit Boutique with its collectibles, crystal, and silver pieces, or at the Gently-used Jewelry Table with its pins, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. For the book-lover on your list, there will be gift books at bargain prices, cook books, and Christmas books for adults as well as children. The Silent Auction is another place to find a special gift.

In keeping with Harvest and Holiday traditions, there will be lots of special things to eat. You can find them at the Old Bake Shop in the Vestry Cottage with its cornucopia of harvest-time pumpkin treats and apple goodies, or at the Cafe in the Parish House, with its Eastern Shore luncheon favorites like crab soup and chicken salad. A beautiful, handcrafted cider press will be on the grounds, offering little cups of just-pressed cider and giving you or your children a chance to try pressing some yourselves.

For music lovers, the Wye Choral Scholars, directed by Bonnie Forgacs, and the Wye Youth Chorale, directed by Erin Grier, will present “Madrigals, Mirth and Merriment”, a delightful program of various musical styles. Tours of the beautiful and historic (1726) Old Wye Church will be presented throughout the day

The Bazaar with its long history and loyal following of attendees is presented annually by Wye Parish’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and is chaired this year by Valerie Dryka. 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.