Christmas Fair set Dec. 5 at St. George's in Harbeson
The annual Christmas Fair held by the women and men of St. George’s Chapel will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, in the parish hall across the street from the historic brick chapel on Route 23 near Harbeson.
It’s a popular craft show, but it’s more than that. “There’s much to see and shop for,” says Helen Abrams, co-chair of the Episcopal Church Women. Members work on this event all year long to make sure shoppers have a good experience. Word has spread. Many people consider it the beginning of the holiday season.
There’s much more to the Christmas Fair besides craft shopping. “People make a day of it,” says Abrams. “We have really nice food treats, such as coffee and baked goods to start the day, and then soup, sandwiches, a bake table with all kinds of goodies and takeout treats to take home.
“The event is free,” says Abrams. “We raise money for charity through the sale of foodstuffs such as at the bake table and other refreshments, and through the sale of items that vendors bring to the fair. We contribute money to good causes such as Sussex Community Crisis Housing, the Community Resource Center, the Boys & Girls Club and other causes.”
Some of the vendors, such as Gail Neiburg of Angola by the Bay, a potter who makes beautiful fish plates and other pottery items, and Joyce Lafferty of Rehoboth Beach who makes beaded jewelry, join the crafters at St. George’s Chapel. Many of the crafters are creative artists who have been attracted to chapel membership because of its members’ interests in crafts.
Colleen and Ed Herman of Millsboro are members of the chapel and professional artists who design creative Corian cutting boards of all kinds and shapes. They travel a lot with their work, but they always save time for the Christmas Fair.
Retired pastor David Risseeuw, member of St. George’s with his wife Marge, is known for the holiday cheeses he imports from family members in Wisconsin, and the popular Christmas stollen he bakes especially for the Christmas Fair.
Parishioners Michele Carey and Kim Baptiste gather fresh greens for the event, and make wreaths and other items available for sale to shoppers.
New this year are amazing wood carvings by Richard Wingate of Lewes, also a parishioner.
“We are a small country church,” says Carol Wells, ECW co-chair, “but there’s a beauty in our chapel and worship services, and we attract artists who thrive in the creative atmosphere here.” Tours of the chapel, first built in 1719, will be available. For more information, call 302-945-2368.
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