This is our 10th year for this show," said Michelle Eakman, describing the Manheim Holiday Craft Show. "It started out as a small show, and we just outgrew the space. We needed a bigger space, and we found one here."

The show will be held at Ruhl's Church, 4810 Elizabethtown Road, Manheim, on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It will feature more than 35 vendors, as well as lots of homemade food.

"There is such a wide variety of items to choose from," said Eakman, who coordinates the craft portion of the event with Steph Heisey. "We have sourdough breads, soy candles, ornaments, stationery."

Among the offerings, a cappella group Vocal Harmonix will sell music-themed "blind date with a book" items at its stand.

Heisey will sell her homemade candy, including peanut butter cups and cashew cups, along with decoupaged items, and Eakman will sell handmade scarves.

"We'll also have some direct sale vendors like Pampered Chef, Mary Kay and Tastefully Simple," Eakman said.

People will also have the opportunity to win a variety of gift cards to local businesses.

For shoppers who work up an appetite, plenty of food will be for sale to enjoy on-site or take to go.

The menu will include homemade chicken corn noodle soup, beef barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, drinks and a wide variety of baked goods.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the outreach mission team of Ruhl's Church.

"We are a mission group that supports local, national and global missions," said Gail Ruhl. "We do a lot of short-term missions for people in the church or in the community that have a need, and we do those throughout the year."

Each year, a group travels to at least one mission site in the country, although last year two trips were organized. One group traveled to Guatemala to serve at Kairos House, while another completed mission work in West Virginia. Plans for a trip in June of 2027 are still being finalized.

The mission team includes church members as well as people from the community, and it's open to anyone who wants to serve, Ruhl said.

"Shout out to our church and our community," she added, noting that funds raised made the trip affordable for the teams last summer. "We have a very supportive, faithful church and community."

The craft show is an opportunity for people to learn more about the mission team and the church in general, she said.

"Our church is so excited about getting people to come for anything," she remarked. "We try to offer a variety. This is a craft show, but during the year we have Easter egg hunts, we give away food. We try to touch different people in the community that have different needs. We're just excited when people come and they can see what we are."

She noted that the church is welcoming and friendly and that people are invited to talk with church members during the craft show.

"We love to get people into conversations that could possibly lead to something else," she said. "Our 'something else' is we want to spread the love of Jesus Christ, and we want to do that in any way that we can."

Heisey noted that one current church member decided to join after attending the craft show and seeing a bulletin board listing the variety of events held at the church.

She encourages people to come to the craft show, adding, "It's just a nice atmosphere. There's a place to sit if you want to eat here, or you can just check out all the vendors. It's always very well attended."

Ruhl said the show is the perfect time to start - or continue - your holiday shopping.

"It might not be the biggest craft show in the area, but I think that helps it not be so overwhelming," she said. "The vendors are high-quality. You can pick up inexpensive but well-made items for gifts and check off people on your list."

Food at the Manheim Holiday Craft Show will be available for purchase by cash only. Some craft vendors may accept credit cards or electronic payments. Parking is available in a large lot, and both the building and restrooms are handicapped-accessible. For more information, search for "Manheim Holiday Craft Show" on Facebook.