Tri-Cities arts and crafts calendar

Nov. 14

Holiday Art & Craft Show: The Mothers Club of Geneva will have its 35th annual Holiday Art & Craft Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave. More than 100 crafters will be selling gifts for the holidays. There also will be a luncheon and homestyle bakery. Admission is $4, free for students younger than 12. Proceeds benefit local nonprofit organizations. For details, call Katie Tabor at (630) 345-4020 or visit mothersclubofgeneva.com.

Nativity exhibition, craft show: St. Peter Church in Geneva will host the third annual Nativity Exhibition from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at the church, 1891 Kaneville Road, Geneva. For details, call the parish center at (630) 232-0124.

The public is invited to stroll through a large collection of Nativity sets. More than 100 sets are loaned to the church by parishioners and community members.

During the event, there is an opportunity to support two charitable causes. Items that make lovely gifts, as well as practical products for the home, are available in a mini bazaar from a Catholic Relief program, The Work of Human Hands. All products are made by the poor of developing nations. One hundred percent of these proceeds will be returned to them. The church will accept a freewill donation and this money will be given to the St. Peter Community Food Pantry. The pantry feeds 300-plus families from the Fox Valley twice a month. New Nativity sets, Advent calendars, prayer books and candles also will be available for purchase. Net proceeds from these sales will be also be given to the food pantry.

Nov. 14-15

Christmas in the Country: The 30th annual Christmas in the Country arts and crafts show will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Sandwich High School, Lynn Haskin Grade School and Sandwich Middle School. There will be a shuttle bus for easy access to all three buildings. Admission is $2. Proceeds benefit the band programs. No strollers or smoking will be allowed in any building. For details, visit sandwich-il.org.

Nov. 20-21

Holiday bazaar: Ambition Dance and Performing Arts, 184 N. La Fox in South Elgin, will host its first holiday craft bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. The vendors will include: Beijo Purses, Bottle Cap Top Necklaces, Close to My Heart, Girls-Hair Bowes and Ties, Glass Blown Jewelry, Its a Girl Thing, Lia Sophia, Marshmallow Creations, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Partylite, Send Out Cards and Tastefully Simple. Gold Rush gold buyers will also be here so bring your gold to earn cash. At 1 p.m., there will be a Zumba fitness demonstration and dance performances throughout the day. For details, call (847) 841-1447.

Nov. 21

Holiday Craft Fair: Marklund's 2009 Holiday Craft Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Marklund Hyde Center, 1S450 Wyatt Drive, Geneva. There will be many crafters selling handmade items. The Holiday Craft Fair also welcomes cosmetics and food vendors. In addition, there will be a Marklund booth featuring items handcrafted by Marklund's developmental training clients. For details, contact Peggy Szarzynski at (630) 593-5475 or pszarzynski@marklund.org.

Shop for Shelter: St. Mark's Lutheran Church in St. Charles will host a benefit for Lazarus House, "Shop for Shelter," from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. There will be more than 25 vendor booths featuring fashion, jewelry, health and beauty, home goods, kitchen ware, and more. There will be door prizes and giveaways, as well as a cafe for refreshments. Visit the K-LOVE radio and Lazarus House booths. Admission and parking are free. The church is at 101 S. Sixth Ave., St. Charles. For details, call (630) 888-6755.

Craft fair: Jefferson Middle School, 1151 Plum St., Aurora, is looking for vendors/crafters to be part of the school's first craft fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Booth rental is $20 for a 10-by-10-foot space, $5 for an 8-foot table and $5 for electricity; limited space is available. All vendors are required to donate one item to be raffled with a minimum value of $10. Any vendor interested in participating can call Assistant Principal Melena Gaspadarek at (630) 301-5306. The craft fair is sponsored by the Jefferson Middle School's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team. Proceeds will benefit Jefferson students.

Nov. 21-22

Festival of Arts & Crafts Show: The show will feature 170 booths of quality handcrafted items from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the DuPage Expo, 4050 E. Main St., St. Charles. Cost is $2, free for kids younger than 12. There is free parking. For exhibitor information, call (847) 301-8543 or visit stepbystepcraftshows.com.

Nov. 27

MALLternative-A Holiday Bazaar and Vendor Show: Calvary's Holiday Bazaar and Vendor Show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, at Calvary Episcopal Church, 222 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31) in Batavia. It will include crafts, holiday items, things for the home and jewelry. All proceeds benefit the outreach ministries of Calvary, including such local agencies as Mutual Ground, Lazarus House, Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Hesed House. Admission is free.

Nov. 28-29

Christmas Craft Show: Marmion Academy Alumni Association is sponsoring its 19th annual "A Marmion Family Christmas" craft show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, in the school gymnasium, 1000 Butterfield Road in Aurora. Parking is free both days, with free shuttle bus service Saturday. The Sports Boosters will have food service available both days. Admission is $3 for ages 12 and older. Santa Claus will be visiting the show Sunday and will be available for photos from noon to 2 p.m. No strollers will be allowed in the show area, but free baby-sitting will be available. For information, call (630) 897-6936, ext. 228.