Arts and crafts

November 21

Providence Christmas Market: Providence Christmas Market is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Northwest Bible Baptist Church, 9N889 Nesler Road, Elgin. Market will feature handmade items, crafts, baked goods, food and Grandma's Attic. Free admission and free parking. (847) 931-7222.

November 21-22

Merry Makers: For the 14th year, the Merry Makers will open the doors to the public at 816 W. Highland Ave., Elgin, for the annual Holiday and Crafts Show from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. The show will feature one-of-a-kind handmade crafts, holiday decor and baked goodies. Admission is free. For details, call Karen at (847) 888-2230.

November 21-23

McNeil Mansion Holiday Open House: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 162 S. State St., Elgin. Jewelry, knitted and felt accessories, vintage furniture, small antiques, holiday decor, candles, soaps, concrete birdbaths and leafs, door prizes and more.

November 22

Storm Artisan Expo: The second annual Storm Artisan Expo will offer artisan designs, crafts, jewelry, wood creations, pottery, home-baked treats and more from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at South Elgin High School, 760 E. Main St., South Elgin. Anyone who does crafts, quilts, sews or creates gifts may reserve a table or space now. Cost is $30 and one donated item worth $10 retail for a door prize table. It is sponsored by the South Elgin High fine arts department and the parent booster foundation. For information or reservations, e-mail jontuin@u-46.org or call (847) 289-3760, ext. 3663.

November 22-23

Human Hands Bazaar: St. Peter Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Road in Geneva, will offer the community a chance to view a collection of scores of Nativity sets loaned to the church by parishioners and community members from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. Last year, 175 sets were on display. Over the two days, about 1,000 people visited the exhibit. During this year's event, there is an opportunity to support two charitable causes. Items that make lovely gifts, as well as practical items for the home, are available in a mini bazaar from The Work of Human Hands. All products are made by the poor of developing nations. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be returned to them. The exhibit organizers will take a freewill donation for the St. Peter Community Food Pantry. The pantry feeds about 250 families from the Fox Valley area twice a month. New Nativity sets, Advent calendars, prayer books and candles will be for sale. For details, call the parish center at (630) 232-0124.

November 29

Vendor and Home Decor Fair: The Elgin Junior Woman's Club will present its annual Vendor and Home Decor Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Epworth United Methodist Church, corner of Randall Road and Highland Avenue, Elgin. Vendors will display designer handbags, jewelry, handcrafted holiday decorations, homemade cards and linens. Also offered will be Tastefully Simple, Watkins, Cookie Lee, Mary Kay, Tupperware, Surprise Parties, Longaberger, and more. The fair will include a bake sale. All proceeds benefit the Renz Addiction Counseling Center of Elgin.

November 29-30

Christmas Craft Show: Marmion Academy's two-day Christmas Craft Show will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. The juried craft show will be held at the academy, 1000 Butterfield Road, Aurora. Admission is $3 for those 12 and older. Complimentary baby-sitting service is offered both days. For information or to obtain an application, contact the Alumni Office at (630) 897-6936, ext. 228 or visit www.marmion.org/alumni/alumni.html. Last year's show featured 158 crafters and drew more than 3,400 paying customers.

December 6

Holiday Express: The Hoover Wood Elementary School PTO is hosting the second annual Holiday Vendor Mart, "Holiday Express," from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the school gymnasium, 1640 Wagner Road in Batavia. All proceeds for this event go directly to programs for students to supplement their learning experience. If you are a small business or vendor and would be interested in promoting your products or services, call Jennifer Jansson at (630) 879-0172. Not interested in going to the malls or navigating online? Then stop by Hoover Wood Elementary School on Saturday, Dec. 6. You will find great gift choices, no large parking lots, no traveling from store to store and no long lines. The PTO will also have gift cards available for many national retail chains. To tie it all up, gift wrapping will be available for a small donation.

Marklund Holiday Craft Fair: Marklund's 2008 Holiday Craft Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Marklund Hyde Center, 1S450 Wyatt Drive in Geneva. There will be many vendors selling their handmade holiday ornaments as well as items created as gifts. In addition, there will be a Marklund booth featuring items handcrafted by Marklund's developmental training clients. The Holiday Craft Fair also will include cosmetics and food vendors such as Avon, Mary Kay, Tastefully Simple, and Pampered Chef. All vendors have donated one item valued at $10 or more to Marklund for a raffle to be held during the Holiday Craft Fair.

AID Holiday show: The Association for Individual Development is holding its ninth annual Holiday Bazaar and Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at AID's Keeler Center, 309 W. New Indian Trail Court in Aurora. Applications for crafters are being taken on a first-come, first serve basis. The table fee is $25 if paid before Thursday, Nov. 20, and $30 after that date. Proceeds from the fees are used for activities and outings for individuals who participate in AID's Developmental Training program offered at the Keeler Center. The program helps people with severe disabilities to become as independent as possible in the following skill areas: self-help, daily living, speech and language, fine and gross motor development, socialization and prevocational skills. The program also provides long-term training in daily living and adaptive skills in order to increase or maintain social independence. For more information, call MaryAnn at (630) 966-4252.

Sugar Plum Holiday Market: The Bell-Graham Elementary School PTO invite you to attend the Sugar Plum Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. It will feature crafters, vendors, artists, a bake sale and raffle. The school is at 4N505 Fox Mill Blvd., off Route 64, three miles west of Randall Road in St. Charles. For details, call (630) 762-6670.