By Lauren Schiavone
Hometown Weekly Staff
Westwood locals look forward to finding unique gifts and taking in the community spirit at First Baptist Church’s (FBC) annual Holly Fair — and this year’s iteration, held on Saturday, December 3, and returning for the first time since the pandemic, delivered on both fronts. From 9 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon, individuals were free to browse handmade items and antiques, and pick up a few treats for themselves along the way.
The Holly Fair is synonymous with the holiday season. Shoppers picked up seasonal crafts such as knit scarves, handmade ornaments, and thoughtful greeting cards. Church members added their signature treats to the bake sale table, which is always a hit. Over thirty members contributed frosted cakes, miniature loaves, and sweet jams that sold almost immediately. Outside vendors were included in the proceedings this year.
Equally as popular, the attic treasures on the stage presented gently-used items and rare finds at bargain prices.
“Christmas fairs are very common in New England churches,” explained Judy Butler, church member and marketing director for the fair. “We didn’t have one for a couple of years because of COVID. This is the first year we’ve come back. It’s a time to showcase items made by members of the church.”
For her part, Butler noticed the attic treasures were the first items shoppers gravitated towards. Unable to resist, she picked up a CorningWare pie plate for herself.
Being back to an in-person format also allowed visitors to appreciate one of the fair’s more unique offerings. Since the COVID shutdown, local artists have been painting shutters that were once part of the church before its renovation. Through the pandemic, sales of these pieces were conducted online. Now, six shutters by three local artists are available for purchase. The proceeds from these statement decor pieces will be donated to charity, namely the Sunflower of Peace for Ukraine.
The church’s charitable endeavors, of course, are not solely confined to the sale of shutters. To that end, FBC is hosting a month-long drive for white socks for the homeless, which they were collecting on the day. A basket for donations will continue to be held in the vestibule through the end of the month.
On their way way out, shoppers opted for homemade chili and apple crisp for lunch to conclude the productive days. Whether it was with a holiday gift under their arms, a bite to eat in their bellies, or a seasonal warmth in their hearts, no visitors left this year’s Holly Fair empty-handed.
