By Linda White
Home baked treats and pies, gift baskets, raffles, White Elephant rooms, clever, artful and unusual crafted items, activities for children and delicious fall luncheons must mean it is time to celebrate the annual schedule of harvest and holiday fairs that are on the horizon.
Don’t miss these annual events. Get out your calendars and schedule some time to visit as many of the fairs as possible, see old friends, find something special for people on your shopping list and get into the spirit of the season.
November 13 & 14
First Church of Christ, Congregational
Friday, November 13 from 6 to 9 pm and Saturday, November 14 from 9:30am to 2:30pm
25 The Great Road, Bedford
The First Church of Christ, Congregational will host its 65th annual fair, the oldest of the Bedford fairs, and the first fair of the 2015 season, on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14. Friday night at 7:00 pm will feature a magic show for all ages, “Evan Northrup: Designer of the Impossible,” (suggested donation $1) and a light dinner and dessert. Friday and Saturday will both include kids’ activities, the beautifully lighted Yuletide Treasures room, food, hand crafted items and baked goods will be available in the General Store room, white elephants, used toys and books and a silent auction that includes services and gift cards. Saturday’s light lunch (including Pastor John Castricum’s famous chowder) and dessert will be available beginning at 11:00am. Fair attendees will again have the opportunity to be entertained by the very talented Ben Knight on the piano in the main hall. All fair proceeds benefit a mission project.
November 21 & 22
New England Nurseries
Saturday, November 21 from noon until 2 pm
Concord Road, Bedford
New England Nurseries in Bedford will kick off the holiday season with their fifteenth annual open house, inviting all to share with friends, neighbors and local restaurants ideas for dining, decorating, food and entertainment for the coming holiday season..
John Dodge’s 32nd Annual Coat Drive to benefit St. Francis House
Saturday, November 21 from 8 am until 4 pm
Outside Bedford Funeral Home on The Great Road
Indefatigable nonagenarian and former Town Historian John Dodge returns to Great Road to collect coats for St. Francis House. Because of the construction at Bedford Marketplace, John and a truck from St. Francis House will be across the street from his traditional spot, in front of Bedford Funeral Home accepting donations of gently-worn coats and other clothing for men and women. Family members will be there, along with a van from St. Francis House, from 8 am until dusk.
St. Michael Parish Harvest Holiday Fair
Saturday, November 21 from 9 am – 2 pm and Sunday, November 22 from 7:30am to 12:15pm for gift basket raffle and baked goods
90 Concord Road, Bedford
Entering the St. Michael Parish Center for the Harvest Holiday Fair on Saturday, November 21, you’ll be greeted by a huge gift basket raffle of more than 100 unique gift baskets with a basket to tempt every age and interest. Moving down the corridor, several rooms have been dedicated to white elephant items. You might also find some green, pink or multicolored elephants among the household goods, decorations, children’s toys, games and gear. A wide variety of crafters, artisans and local representatives of home-based businesses will be set up in the parish hall. Home baked treats including delicious homemade apple pies frozen and ready to “take and bake at home” and luncheon items will be featured in the hall. Additionally, the gift basket raffle and baked goods sale will be available Sunday from 7:30am to 12:15pm. All proceeds benefit parish Religious Education programs. https://bedfordcatholic.org/craft-fair
Middlesex Community College Arts& Crafts Fair
Saturday, November 21 from 9 am until 3 pm
Bedford Campus – 591 Springs Road
The 22nd Annual Middlesex College Arts & Crafts Fair located on the beautiful Bedford Campus on Saturday, November 21 features more than 60 crafters from near and far. Available items include woodcrafts, quilts, baskets, jewelry, T-shirts, honey bee products, holiday decorations, glassware and much more. Raffle items include a Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) package, lottery ticket basket, wine and cheese, etc. Don’t miss the baker’s booth for fresh homemade breads, cheesecakes and pies. Parking is free and plentiful.
Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
Saturday, November 21 from 9 am until 3 pm
Cook Street – Billerica
Shawsheen Tech is hosting its 8th Annual Fall Fair on Saturday, November 21st from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. With nearly 100 tables, there is certainly something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to knock off some holiday shopping, or better yet, treat yourself to a gift. In addition to the many crafts, ranging from hand crafted jewelry to bird houses, crochet, and personalized beach towels, we have a huge bake sale table that you won’t be able to resist. Whether you indulge your sweet tooth, take a chance on our new and improved raffle table, or simply enjoy company with family and friends while strolling through the building, this is one fair you don’t want to miss. And, new to the fair this year is an area especially designed for children, so bring them along for face-painting, manicures, balloon art, and pictures with Santa from 10-11:00am.
Temple Emunah
Sunday, November 22 from 1:00 – 5:00pm and Monday, November 23 from 9:30-11:00am
9 Piper Road – Lexington
The Temple Emunah Sisterhood will hold its annual rummage sale beginning on Sunday, November 22. The sale features clothing, household items, books, toys, sundries and more. All items sold on Monday will be at $10 per bag in a bag that will be provided. Proceeds will benefit mitzvah projects and youth programs.
December 3 to 6
Holiday Open Studio Sale
Thursday, December 3 through Saturday, December 5 from 10am-8pm and Sunday, December 6 from Noon to 5pm
14 Springs Road, Bedford behind the Blake Block
Back by popular demand, the Open Studio Sale, offers a great opportunity to shop local, offering fine crafted gifts for any occasion. Clayful Expressions and Wind & Stars Handmade together again for a special Holiday Open Studio Sale Dec. 3-6. Clayful Expressions artist, Teresa Deible, creates unique handbuilt ceramic pieces, as well as earrings using colored clay. Wind & Stars Handmade artist, Beth Dilorio layers paint and paper creating books, keepsake boxes, paintings, and whimsical gifts. This year Kathy Clark from Your Garden Variety, will be offering holiday greens arrangements for sale. The studio is accessible with parking and entrance via the rear of Blake Block. Hours are: Thursday-Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday Noon-5pm.
Winter Market at the Umbrella Community Arts Center
Friday, December 4 from 1 to 6 pm; Saturday, December 5 from noon to 5 pm; Sunday, December 6 from 1 to 5 pm
40 Stow Street, Concord
Bedford’s Sing Hanson, an Umbrella member, will show her work, along with other members and artists/artisans, including Mary Johannessen of Studio 200 Glass, whose work was juried into this annual show along with 17 other artisans.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Saturday, December 5, from 9 am to 2 pm
100Pine Hill Road, Bedford
The St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Advent Fair taking place on Saturday, December 5 has been a favorite parish event for more than 50 years. Look for an extensive and varied array of beautiful gift baskets, homemade holiday cookies for sale by the pound on the Cookie Walk, silent auctions and a special raffle for a 42mm Apple Watch, vintage jewelry, white elephant treasures, hand crafted decorations and gift items, activities for children, tasty breakfast and lunch options including homemade Soups-to-Go, live glassblowing demonstrations and so much more! All proceeds benefit the work and ministries of the church.
Preview the selection of gift baskets at https://www.stpaulsbedford.org/news/advent-fair/advent-fair-baskets/ or the fair preparations at www.stpaulsbedford.org/news/advent-fair/
Bedford Tree Lighting, Laser Show & Walkabout
Saturday, December 5, from late afternoon until early evening
Save the Date: The Town and local businesses will sponsor a laser light show at Bedford High School, the traditional tree lighting on Bedford Common with a visit from Santa, and a walkabout sponsored by local businesses.
The Gallery Committee at First Parish on the Common
Sunday, December 6, from 11 am to 1:30 pm
75 Great Road, Bedford
The Gallery Committee at First Parish on the Common will host an Artisan’s Fair on Sunday, December 6th in the Bacon Room from 11:00 to 1:30. All are welcome.
December 13
Suzanne and Co./Christmas in the Village Holiday House Tour
Houses in and around Bedford will be decorated for the holidays. Tickets go on sale December 1; proceeds benefit the Bedford Chamber of Commerce
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