WESTFIELD — As craft fair shoppers start making their lists, and checking them twice, Wyben Union Church members hope attendees are eagerly anticipating their Christmas Craft Fair as much as the organizers who are already hard at work.

The craft fair is slated Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 678 Montgomery Rd., Westfield.

“Planning of the fair begins in summer and starts to ramp up once autumn arrives,” said Denise Machado, fair coordinator, noting all of the volunteers are church members.

“It’s a wonderful community of people who come together whenever we have a need, and the craft fair is no exception,” said Machado. “It’s quite a festive day, and one that the entire congregation gets behind.”

Machado noted there is a committee for every aspect of the fair, including the Corn Chowder Committee.

“Corn chowder is a time-honored tradition of the fair and one many people look forward to,” said

Machado, noting a solicitation for soup ingredients is sent out several weeks prior to the fair to church members.

“Then a half-dozen or so of our ladies will get together the day before the fair to whip up several large stockpots of delicious corn chowder,” said Machado. “The anticipation to taste the soup is quite high once lunchtime rolls around on fair day – and it never disappoints.”

Machado also said the tradition will continue with other menu offerings – ham, egg and tuna salad sandwiches with chips and a pickle.

“It has been this way for the last 30 years, and probably longer,” she said.

As for the crafters, Machado said applications are focused on product variety.

“We receive so much positive feedback from our crafters, and many look forward to returning each year,” she said, adding, “because of that, we fill our vendor selection very quickly.”

Visitors will find all handcrafted items including miniature acrylic paintings, hand-spun yarn wearables, greeting cards and hand-sewn journals, vintage and boho-inspired jewelry, leaf-impressioned concrete birdbaths, hand-thrown pottery, holiday crafts, and knit and sewn clothing for children and pets.

Machado added that the Wyben 4-H Club typically sells fresh evergreen wreaths and while she awaits hearing from the group in the coming weeks, she “anticipates” their participation once again this year.
What makes this craft fair particularly special is that funds raised through raffle ticket sales and the corn chowder luncheon benefits a local charity each year.

“One of the unique things about the Wyben Craft Fair is that the funds we raise don’t stay in the church,” said Machado, adding, “they are donated to a charity selected in advance by the church’s Missions Committee.”

Machado explained the church has a small operating budget that covers permits, advertising and incidentals for the craft fair.

“Because of this budget, we are able to take 100 percent of the proceeds from raffle tickets, kitchen and bake table sales and send it to the chosen charity,” said Machado. “So when someone chooses to attend the craft fair on the first Saturday in December, they have many opportunities to support a good cause. It’s a win-win.”

The Westfield Food Pantry will be the recipient of this year’s funds.

“The Food Pantry, under the direction of Rebecca Hart, has been the recipient of this donation on multiple occasions, and most recently in 2019 during our last fair,” said Machado.

Hart said she is thankful to the members of the Wyben Union Church for choosing the Westfield Food Pantry this holiday season.

“The Westfield Food Pantry greatly appreciates, and has come to rely on, the generosity of the Wyben church community,” said Hart. “Their support allows us to continue our mission of feeding the hungry in Westfield, and supports our programming.”

Machado said a fun change has also been made with the raffle this year.

“In the past, every raffle ticket sold went into a common receptacle and names were drawn from that receptacle for each prize,” she said. “This year, we’re changing it up and holding a ‘penny raffle’ instead.”

Fairgoers who wish to purchase raffle tickets will now be able to distribute them among the raffle items they would most like to have a chance at winning.

“The raffle prizes are yet to be determined for this year, but will include one donated item from each crafter, as well as donations from church members,” said Machado. “Although I am very happy to say that we’ll have handmade Adirondack chairs from one of our members counted among the prizes again this year.”

Machado said traditionally there are 25 to 30 raffle items to choose from. Fairgoers will not have to be present to win.

“The spirit of our church overflows into this craft fair every year, and I believe that’s why our little fair is so beloved,” said Machado. “We like to say that we are a small church, but we have a big heart.”