Handmade holidays: Bazaar season is upon us

Nov. 4—Staging a post-pandemic comeback with a vengeance — almost like a devoted grandmother knitting baby booties while simultaneously baking cookies for the church bake sale — holiday bazaars kick off this weekend in churches and community centers around the region.

Leading the charge, as always, is New Life Church of the Nazarene, which began Friday morning with more than 70 vendors. Likely the region's biggest — and a "must attend" for bazaar veterans — the sale has grown so large it requires a jury selection process to get in.

Vendor coordinator Lauri Henry said enough applications come in to host the event twice.

"We jury all our vendors. It's grown so big. We put the application out in January, they're due in March and we jury in March, usually around spring break," she said.

"We like to notify the vendors we select by April. Since it's a handmade-only bazaar, we want to allow enough time for our artisans to make everything they need to. We generally have between 3,000 and 4,000 people come through the doors and around 70 vendors."

In addition to rooms, gymnasiums and hallways filled with vendors in the large church, the event includes a café chock full of baked goods, soups, sandwiches and other goodies — kitchen proceeds benefit Dunn House this year — and an area for "Selfies with Santa."

Admission to the event is free, but organizers request that patrons bring a food donation for its "Thrive" food bank, which provides food boxes to working families who struggle to make ends meet but don't qualify for subsidies.

Henry said the sale at the church is certainly one to be reckoned with.

"This is our 27th year, and we've made lots of changes and tweaks over the years, but our goal is really to love our community, to support our local artisans and give away as much as possible," she said.

"It takes about 150 volunteers to make this run. I think ours is popular because we're the first one every year. It gets people excited about the holidays. You can have a bread bowl of soup, shop for the holidays. ... My kids are all grown, and they all come home for bazaar. It's tradition."

Vendor Westi Haughey, on hand from Twin Pear Farm, with goat milk beauty products for the weekend sale at "the Naz," was excited to be chosen this year. Haughey said variety at the sale is like nothing she's seen elsewhere.

"This is our third year at the Naz, and it was recommended to us as one of THE holiday shows to get into because it's huge and they have a wonderful audience of shoppers. It's very competitive to get into. Even if you've done it before, you have to reapply every year," Haughey said.

"Every year I challenge myself to do something new and different to keep it interesting. The really great thing about this event is you see that creativity and uniqueness come out whether it's a woodworker or candlemaker or goat milk soaps. There's truly something for everyone on your list."

Upcoming holiday bazaars

* This year's sale at "the Naz:" Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5; until 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 1974 E. McAndrews Road, Medford. For more info, see facebook.com/holidaybazaaratnewlifenaz

* Northridge Senior Living: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5; 1-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; 2979 E. Barnett Road, Medford. The event features local vendors and crafters. First 25 attendees receive a gift-filled stocking vendors.

* Phoenix Grange Fall Bazaar: Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 209 N. Main St., Phoenix. For more info, see https://bit.ly/3fCwCk7

* Jackson County 4H Patriotic Livestock Club: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5-6; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday; inside Eagle Point High School, 203 N. Platt Ave. Stocking stuffers, package toppers, pet holiday gifts, snowman decorations, wreaths, silent auction, photos with Santa and more. For more info, email patrioticlivestock@gmail.com

* Life Path Nazarene Holiday Craft Fair: Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 1481 S. Columbus Ave., Medford. Booths, food trucks and more. For more info, or to reserve a booth, call 541-944-8073

* First Church of God WCG Bazaar: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 2000 Crater Lake Ave. Handmade craft items and baked goods, homemade soups and hot dogs for lunch (served from noon to 2 p.m.)

* Glenwood Christmas Bazaar: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 3431 S. Pacific Highway, Medford. Sale featured handmade crafts from a couple dozen local vendors

* Grange #698 Holiday Bazaar: Saturday, Nov. 19, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 436 E. Pine St., Central Point. Variety of vendors, including homemade household items, crafts, clothing, accessories and health/body items.

* Trinity Episcopal Church: Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 44 N. Second St., Ashland. Bazaar-esque quilt and mincemeat sale featuring quilts of all sizes, knitted goods, plus Trinity's "famous mincemeat," baked goods and a raffle

* RoxyAnn Winery Holiday Bazaar: Saturday and Sunday, Nov 19-20, noon to 5 p.m.; 3283 Hillcrest Road, Medford (on the heated patio). Shop local artisans and craft booths to kick off the holiday season while sipping wine. For more info, see roxyann.com/events/

* Butte Falls Christmas Bazaar: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19-20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Butte Falls Fire Department community hall, 535 Oak Ave. Hosted by the volunteer Butte Falls Fire Department. Event includes vendors, refreshments and more. For vendor info, call 541-821-7500 or email taylormyersn@gmail.com

* Eastwood Baptist Church Craft Fair: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-27; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday; 675 North Keene Way, Medford. Craft fair being hosted to help pay for a new church roof. Booths are $50 ($10 is refunded after cleanup). Rent a table for $10 — or just come shop. For more info, call 541-331-1065 or email llamaquilts@msn.com

* Ruch Holiday Market: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26-27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Applegate Fire Station Community Hall, 1095 Upper Applegate Road, Jacksonville. Two-dozen vendors offering Thanksgiving weekend shopping with local crafters. For more info, see facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086493550988

* Talent Holiday Market: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26-27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Talent Elementary School, 307 W. Wagner St., Talent. For more info, or to sign up as a vendor, see talentartisansandgrowers.com

* Holiday Market at the 360 Building: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3; 4-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 360 E. Jackson St., Medford. Holiday market featuring local artisans and entrepreneurs from Jackson and Josephine counties. For more info, see lwrv.org/events/holiday-market-at-the-360-building/

* Christmas Bazaar at Royal Mobile Estates: Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 1055 N. Fifth St., Jacksonville. Handmade items and homemade food items, vendors and more in the park clubhouse. Vendor fee is $10. For more info, call 541-899-7170.

* Prospect Lioness Holiday Bazaar: Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Prospect Community Center, 305 Red Blanket Road. Community fundraiser complete with homemade items, 50/50 drawing, silent auction, homemade cookies, cakes, jams and "attic treasures," tables loaded with gently used items; homemade soups, chili and hot dogs available for lunch.

* Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral Society Holiday Bazaar: Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Crater Rock Museum, 2002 Scenic Ave., Central Point. Handcrafted jewelry and other creations made by society members; lapidary and silver work, arts and crystals. Museum admission is free during the sale. For more info, see facebook.com/CraterRockMuseum

* Christmas at the FFarm: Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3-4, and Dec. 10-11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; hosted by Crater FFA at the Crater Land Lab, 5040 Upton Road, Central Point. Pick out the perfect Christmas tree, ride a real camel, take photos with Santa and shop local vendors for holiday gifts. Additional activities include train rides, handmade wreaths, refreshments and a petting zoo. For more info, facebook.com/events/251414019054979/251414039054977/?active_tab=about

* Talent Library Club Holiday Boutique: Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 101 Home St., Talent. Holiday boutique featuring new and gently used items suitable as gifts; children's and gift books, toys, knickknacks and more. Hosted by Library Friends group. For more info, call 541-535-4163.

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 541-776-8784 or bpollock@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal