It May Seem Bizarre But I Like Going to Christmas Bazaars

Dear readers, comes before you now one Jim Perkins ready to admit that I LIKE Christmas bazaars. Really, I do. I realize it might be a little girlie-man to admit that, but I’m afraid it’s true.

Well why not?! Shopping a Christmas bazaar or two this time of year helps put me in the mood for the holidays. Bazaars work way better than Black Friday sales. My usual routine is to attend a couple of Christmas bazaars then after Thanksgiving attend a couple of freebie Christmas concerts and next thing you know I’m ready to deck the halls Carol.

I like to browse all the booths at bazaars. I try to be careful not to buy a bunch of stuff I don’t need, but shoot, there’s some good stuff at those bazaars. I like all the homemade treats such as cookies, cakes, pies, jams and jellies, specialty breads. And fudge! Good old home made fudge – marshmallow fudge, peanut butter fudge, and divinity. Makes my glucose reading skyrocket just thinking about it. Then there are all the handcrafted items like scarves, jewelry, paintings and carved wooden bowls and trays.

Love this painting by Brett Varney I bought at Allied Arts

Bazaar sellers can be so clever. Remember the old computer punch cards? People made all kinds of Christmas things with those – Christmas trees for one. Another popular item are plastic pop bottle (usually quart size) bird feeders. You see all manner of earrings, necklaces and other jewelry. Pot holders abound, as do pretty table cloths and many, many other items. For a couple of years ceramic tabletop Christmas trees with lights were all rage. Yeah, I bought one of those.

One of the things I really like checking out at a bazaar is art. Two bazaars I particularly liked when I lived up north in Bellingham were the juried Catholic Church bazaar and the Allied Arts bazaar. I bought a painting and a framed photograph at the Allied Arts bazaar, some postcards and other stuff. I bought some useful kitchen thingy at the Catholic Church bazaar. There were two Catholic Churches in Bellingham. At one Church I bought a beautiful rosary with red, heart-shaped beads and a silver crucifix. I swear I’m going to learn how to pray the rosary someday.

The rosary I bought at a bazaar

I’m glad they don’t have puppies and kittens at bazaars. I don’t know if I’d have enough buyer’s resistance for that and Sam doesn’t need a little friend. I take him to daycare so he has friends to play with.

I usually hesitate to buy a Christmas present for family or friends at a bazaar. The items at bazaars often seem to be so one-of-a-kind, I don’t know if they would match up with my family or friend’s tastes. I like to buy leather items at bazaars. I’m always checking out wallets and belts.

I drove around town last weekend looking for a bazaar while Kathleen was in New York City visiting her daughter. I thought I would entertain myself and start working on my holiday spirit. But alas! I was not able to find a bazaar. I don’t know why I didn’t think of going on line to find bazaars – duh. But one of Kathleen’s co-workers upon hearing my plight looked on line for me and found several. Thanks Marilee! Come November 22, I’m going to check out the Olympia High School Antique and Craft “Bazaar.” The Seven Oaks Holiday Bazaar at St. John’s Episcopal Church here in Lacey also on the 22nd might be good too. I also might attend the Country Christmas Bazaar in Elma the next day and on December 6, I think I’ll take in the Hawks Holiday Happening at River Ridge High School. That should do me.

Happy holidays everyone. And MERRY CHRISTMAS!!