Wareham was bustling with shoppers on Saturday as five organizations hosted holiday fairs featuring crafts, gifts, food, and greenery for sale — all for a good cause.

The Gleason Family YMCA

Over 40 local vendors from Rochester, Mattapoisett, Plymouth, Fall River and across the South Coast gathered at the Gleason Family YMCA for the fourth Annual Holiday Craft Fair.

Special Events Coordinator Cathy Longfield, who has been preparing for the fair since the summer, said the event is a perfect chance for anyone to buy last-minute unique Christmas gifts for their friends and loved ones.

The proceeds from the event will benefit the Annual Campaign, which helps pay for Y memberships and classes for community members who otherwise would be unable to afford them. Longfield encouraged residents to not confine themselves to the Y’s event but rather help the community by visiting the other four Christmas fairs across the town. 

“You can start here and make your way to downtown,” said Longfield. “We all support each other, we are all in this community together, we are all trying to do good in it.”

Church of the Good Shepherd

The fair held by the Church of the Good Shepherd did not feature any vendors. Rather, crafts of all sorts — from scented candles to wooden Rudolf figurines — were exhibited. All items were handmade by the church members, and visitors could carefully examine each of them at their own pace.

The church fair has been a tradition for over forty years and has grown to not only include unique crafts but also a variety of home-made food, including popcorn, pies, and cookies. Church member Fran Balanca brought over 25 jars of jams, including apple pie jam, dandelion jam, and even strawberry pineapple zucchini jam.

“You can have a lot of failures making jam,” said Balanca. “But choosing a good fruit to work with is the most important thing.” 

Wareham Garden Club

The Wareham Garden Club hosted a “Jingle All The Way”-themed Christmas Fair in the St. Patrick’s Church Hall. The space was filled with greens, wreaths, arrangements of all sizes, and a cookie table. 

Diane Cook, the second vice-president of the club, said preparations for the fair began in the summer, as club members began to craft ornaments and wreaths made from oyster shells. 

The week ahead of the fair is when things kick into high gear, as members gather to arrange fresh greens, which should stay green through Christmas.
Cook and member Sandy Slavin agreed that preparing the arrangements and wreaths is a lot of fun, because it is a social activity that allows members to spend time together. 

The greens are very popular in the community: Slavin said the hall was packed shortly after the fair opened with people eager to pick up decorations.

“We’re very thrilled to have the community support,” said Peter LaBouliere, the club’s president. “We have a loyal following.” 

Friends of the Wareham Free Library

The Friends of the Wareham Free Library fair featured plenty of books, sweet treats, and homemade decorations and jewelry. The fair has been an annual tradition for at least 25 years, and the cookies have been a consistent hit.

“People come specifically for them,” said President Priscilla Porter.

Sheila Lawson was selling a variety of hand-made ornaments, including tiny elves, snowmen, and ball ornaments in cupcake wrappers.

Lawson was ready to personalize any ornament for an extra-special touch. 

The Friends of the Library will be hosting a Holiday Harp Concert by the New England Irish Harp Orchestra on Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Redmen Hall. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at either the Main or Spinney Branch Libraries or at the door. The door opens at 2:00 and the concert begins at 2:30. Light refreshments will be served.

Wesley United Methodist Church

The Wesley United Methodist Church offered a luncheon alongside crafts and raffles, dishing up chowder, kale soup, and chicken sandwiches. 

Pastor Ginny Doran said she was pleased with the turn out. She said that the best part of these events is the “camaraderie and fellowship, bumping into people.”

In addition to supporting the Church and its building fund, people at the fair were raising money for various charities. The members of the Sunday school class, including 12-year-old Jorja Orne and 15-year-old Cody Salvenson, made ornaments to sell to support the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, including angels made from corks, tiny winter hats, and clear globes featuring beach scenes or melted snowmen. 

Barbara McAllister, another member of the church, said that the members of the class unanimously voted to support St. Jude’s. 

Pastor Dan Bliss of the East Freetown Congregational-Christian Church was selling coffee to support a ministry in Haiti led by Reverend Wilbins Maginet. The funds support the building of a new church, and also buy food for the community and other necessities. Bliss said that several local churches work together to support the ministry, and all funds are sent directly to Haiti.