SHELBURNE FALLS — After being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Joseph Parish’s annual Country Christmas Fair is back on Saturday, Nov. 13, and Sunday, Nov. 14.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday at the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center, 53 Main Street. The fair has been held annually for roughly a decade, with the exception of last year.
“It started in the elementary school and grew to be held in the community center,” said St. Joseph Parish Secretary Gina Wells.
According to a press release from volunteers, the fair will offer country crafts; sewn, crocheted and knitted items; handcrafted Christmas ornaments; home décor; stained glassworks; homemade candies and baked goods; and themed gift baskets.
Additionally, there will be a “Straw Draw” where patrons can pay to draw a straw from a cup. If your straw has a number, you win the prize that corresponds to that number. A silent auction and a raffle featuring a $200 cash prize, a $150 BJ’s gift certificate and a $100 Foster’s Supermarket gift certificate will round out the offerings.
Meanwhile, the Knights of Columbus will serve hot, homemade meals for a fee.
Country Christmas Fair volunteers are mainly the women from the churches of St. Christopher’s Mission in Charlemont, St. John the Baptist in Colrain and St. Joseph Parish in Shelburne Falls, Wells said. Many of these volunteers make the crafts that are sold and auctioned off during the fair.
All three churches are connected as one parish with a single priest who leads mass at each of them. All proceeds from the Country Christmas Fair will benefit general expenses and special projects for the three churches.
Mask wearing will be required for attendees and COVID-19 health safety protocols will be followed. For more information, call St. Joseph Parish at 413-625-6405.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.