Auctions, Artisan Gifts and a $1,000 Beach Wagon Raffle Highlight St. Margaret’s Christmas Bazaar in Foley

FOLEY, Ala. — Holiday shoppers can get a head start on the season Saturday, Nov. 7, when the Ladies of St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Parish hold their annual St. Margaret’s Christmas Bazaar in Foley, with an online auction, artisan gifts, a bake sale, raffles, a children’s craft corner and a café, all to benefit local charities.

The bazaar runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parish center on the St. Margaret of Scotland campus at 601 W. Laurel Ave. Proceeds will support St. Benedict Catholic School, Catholic Social Services, Mary’s Shelter, Family Promise, homeless programs and other charitable organizations.

St. Margaret’s Christmas Bazaar at a glance

• What: Annual Ladies of St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Parish Christmas Bazaar
• When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: St. Margaret of Scotland parish center, 601 W. Laurel Ave., Foley, at the corner of U.S. Highway 98 West and Schumacher Street South
• Raffle tickets: $5 each or three for $10
• Benefits: St. Benedict Catholic School, Catholic Social Services, Mary’s Shelter, Family Promise, homeless programs and other charities

Auctions, artisan gifts and themed booths

The bazaar packs a wide range of holiday shopping into a single morning. Organizers are planning both an online auction and a silent auction, along with artisan gifts, themed booths and tables staffed by community vendors.

Visitors can also try their luck at a 50/50 drawing and several raffles. One highlight is a raffle for a beach wagon loaded with holiday cheer, valued at more than $1,000. Raffle tickets cost $5 apiece or three for $10.

The parish gift shop, located in the church vestibule, will also be well stocked for the day, offering religious items and gifts that may appeal to shoppers looking for meaningful Christmas presents.

Rudolph’s Café and the bake sale

Shoppers who need a break can stop by Rudolph’s Café, the bazaar’s food stop, for something to eat. A bake sale will offer homemade treats to enjoy on the spot or carry home for the holidays.

Church bake sales are often among the first tables to sell out at holiday bazaars, so early arrivals typically have the best selection.

A holiday corner for children

Families with young children will find a dedicated children’s holiday corner featuring a hands-on art-making activity. Organizers say the goal is to share the joy of both making something and giving it to someone else, a fitting lesson for the season.

The activity gives kids something creative to do while parents browse, and it lets them leave with a handmade item they can give as a gift.

Where the money goes

Like many church bazaars, the St. Margaret’s event is a fundraiser first. Money raised will support a group of Catholic and community organizations serving families in Baldwin County and the region:

• St. Benedict Catholic School in Elberta, a regional Catholic school serving families across south Baldwin County
• Catholic Social Services, the social service arm of the Archdiocese of Mobile, which provides help such as counseling, emergency assistance and other services to people in need regardless of faith
• Mary’s Shelter, a maternity home that supports expectant mothers on the Gulf Coast
• Family Promise, a nonprofit network that helps families experiencing homelessness find stable housing
• Homeless programs and other charitable organizations

The mix reflects the parish’s emphasis on education, family support and outreach to people struggling with housing and poverty. Proceeds from the auctions, raffles, café and vendor booths are pooled and distributed to these causes.

About St. Margaret of Scotland Parish

St. Margaret of Scotland is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Mobile, located on West Laurel Avenue near downtown Foley. Its campus sits at the corner of U.S. Highway 98 West and Schumacher Street South, making the bazaar easy to reach for shoppers from Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Summerdale and other south Baldwin communities.

The parish takes its name from St. Margaret of Scotland, an 11th-century queen of Scotland known for her devotion to the poor, her generosity and her support of the church. She was canonized in the 13th century and is remembered for feeding orphans and the needy, a legacy that aligns with the charitable mission of the parish’s annual bazaar.

The Ladies of St. Margaret’s organize the bazaar each year as one of the parish’s signature community events, drawing parishioners and neighbors alike.

A busy bazaar weekend in south Baldwin

The St. Margaret’s bazaar is part of a full lineup of church holiday sales across south Baldwin County this fall. On the same day, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Foley is holding its own fall bazaar and fish fry, giving shoppers a chance to visit more than one sale in town. Later in the month, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Magnolia Springs hosts its fall bazaar on Nov. 21.

Shoppers planning a Saturday of bazaar-hopping may want to start at St. Margaret’s when doors open, since popular items and baked goods tend to go quickly.

Tips for bazaar shoppers

• Arrive early. Doors open at 8 a.m., and the best selection of baked goods and handmade gifts goes first.
• Bring cash. It can be handy for raffle tickets, the 50/50 drawing and small purchases.
• Bring the kids. The children’s holiday corner offers a creative break and a homemade gift to take home.
• Shop with purpose. Every purchase supports local schools, families and shelters.

For more information, contact St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Parish in Foley at 251-943-4009.