Our Lady of Consolation Church will host its 38th annual craft fair on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Schneider Parish Center, 2995 Cemetery Road, Parkesburg. The event will feature a sale of crafts, homemade food, an opportunity to win prizes and a visit by Santa.

More than 50 artisans, crafters and vendors will be featured on two floors inside the center. "We have 55-plus crafters this year, and if it's nice, we will have another five or six people (set up) outside," said the parish's director of religious education, Janice Dagney, who is also one of the event organizers.

Offered for sale will be wreaths, wooden flags, candles, jewelry, holiday decor, soaps, candles, crocheted and sewn items, pottery and pet items. "Burnt Timbers Winery will join us this year, and we have the PhillyMead Winery," said Dagney. "A new little bakery - Flour Girl Breads in Parkesburg - will sell breads."

Visitors will also be able to enjoy a chair massage offered by one of the vendors, and face painting will be available for children for a small fee.

Food items offered for sale will include baked goods, homemade chicken corn soup, chili, gourmet chicken salad and quiches.

Santa will stop by for a visit and sit for pictures from 10 a.m. to noon. A nominal fee will be charged. "We did confirm that the Parkesburg Grinch will be visiting," said Dagney, noting that he will also be available at the same time and will pose for photos.

Visitors can enter to win door prizes throughout the day. Winners do not have to be present to claim their prize. "Each of our crafters donates an item, so we will have more than 50 different prizes throughout the day," Dagney said.

Attendees will have an opportunity to win a turkey for Thanksgiving. No purchase is necessary. "When (people) walk in, they will get a free ticket for a chance to win a free turkey," Dagney explained. "They will have to go on a 'turkey hunt'; they will have to search for the turkey container to put their ticket in."

There will also be an opportunity to win baskets through a random drawing. The baskets were created by church groups such as the adult choir and the Young at Heart group.

Members of the church's youth groups will provide assistance during the craft show. "They help the crafters bring their crafts in the morning, and some of them will come in on Friday night to help with setup," Dagney said.

Proceeds from the craft fair will support the church, including its Life Teen program for high-school-age parishioners and the Life Teen Junior Varsity (LTJV) program for church members in sixth and seventh grades.

For more information about the craft fair, contact Dagney at jdagney@olcchurch.org. More information about the craft fair, including photos of the various crafts, is available at the "OLC Annual Craft Fair 2024" Facebook event page.