Fox Valley arts and crafts calendar

Nov. 14

Craft fair and luncheon: St. Peter Lutheran Church, 43W301 Plank Road in Hampshire, will host a craft fair and luncheon from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. Enjoy a turkey casserole lunch for $7 for adults or $3 for children from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There also will be a silent auction and bake sale. For details, e-mail d.tegtmeier@mchsi.com or call (847) 464-5721.

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. There also will be a luncheon and homestyle bakery. Admission is $4, free for those younger than 12. 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 (630) 232-0124. The public is invited to stroll through a large collection of Nativity sets. 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. The church will accept a freewill donation for the St. Peter Community 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. Visit sandwich-il.org.

Nov. 20-21

Merry Makers: For the 15th year, the Merry Makers will open the doors to the public at 816 W. Highland Ave., Elgin, for its annual Holiday and Crafts Show from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. The show will feature unique handmade crafts, table runners, home decor and baked goodies. Admission is free. For details, call Karen at (847) 888-2230.

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

Christmas Fair: The Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren invites the community to its "Peace on Earth" Christmas Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the church, 783 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. For sale will be handicrafts, baked goods, religious books, fair trade gifts, specialty foods and peace-themed items. Lunch will be provided by the church youth. Blood donation will be available; call the church office to schedule an appointment. All proceeds will benefit local and global charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Soup Kettle, PADS, Koinonia Farms, SERRV, Equal Exchange. For details, call (847) 741-5124 or visit hacob.org.

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.

Nov. 21-22

Red Bird Craft Fair: Epworth United Methodist Church, 37W040 Highland Ave. in Elgin, will host the Red Bird Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. Find quality American made artisans and their wares on display. For details, call (847) 931-5400.

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

Santa Comes to Hampshire: The Hampshire Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for crafters for its annual Santa Comes to Hampshire event Friday, Nov. 27. The show runs from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hampshire Middle School, 560 S. State St. Space is limited to 25 spots. Registration is $40 and money must be received before the spot is reserved. Six-foot tables are available at an additional cost of $5 per table. Vendors are asked to donate a door prize item. For details, call Robbi Burklow at (847) 514-3657 or Stacey Ekstrom at (847) 683-1122.

Nov. 28

Vendor and Home Decor Fair: The Elgin Junior Woman's Club is hosting a Vendor and Home Decor Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Epworth United Methodist Church, Randall Road and Highland Avenue in Elgin. Items from Mary Kay, Tastefully Simple, Celebrating Home and many more vendors will be available. There will also be craft and bake sale items to choose from. For details, contact (847) 224-4318 or slr735@comcast.net. Proceeds will benefit Children's Research Foundation.

Dec. 5

St. John's Craft Fair: St. John's Lutheran Church and School Parent Teacher League is sponsoring its 22nd annual Country Christmas Arts and Crafts Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at St. John's, 300 Jefferson St. in downtown Algonquin. There will be arts and crafts, vendors and door prizes. St. John's still has a limited number of booths available for vendors and crafters. For details, call Char Eineke at (847) 854-2304.

Cookie Walk: First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee, will host its ninth annual Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Admission is free. Homemade holiday cookies and candies will be available in many varieties and will be sold by weight. A boutique of holiday items and handmade mittens, hats and scarves will also be on sale. The church's cookbook, "A Taste of Heaven," costs $5 each. The church provides financial support to six area organizations in the community serving children, families and singles. All proceeds from Cookie Walk 2009 will be used to fund these charities helping the hungry, the homeless and those in need. Call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210, or visit fccdundee.com.

Dec. 12

Cookie Walk/Mission Mart: First United Methodist Women will host its annual Cookie Walk and Mission Mart from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 12, at the church, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin. For details, call (847) 741-0038.