St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is preparing for its annual Fall Bazaar, a community tradition that has been part of village life for decades.
The event will take place Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the church garden, with an indoor setup if weather does not cooperate. Janette Heurtly, chairman of the bazaar’s country kitchen, said the fundraiser has long been a highlight for residents and visitors alike.
“I guess that this bazaar has been going on for 100 years,” Heurtly said. “It has sort of evolved into a niche product, bizarre in the sense that it’s different from other church bazaars because of having this, having the country kitchen with all the jams, jellies, pickles, preserves, pies, quiche, all the homemade stuff.”
Heurtly has volunteered at the bazaar, and the country kitchen there, for more than 30 years, and she said preparations begin well before the fall.
“We start in the spring, making stuff, then when the strawberries come out east in June, we go out to the strawberry farms,” she said. “We try to use local ingredients in everything we make.”
The team of volunteers meets twice a week, producing dozens of varieties of jams, jellies and marmalades, along with pickles, sauces, candies and infused oils.
“We make probably at least 30 different kinds of jams and jellies,” Heurtly said. “We also make oils which are infused with herbs which are grown in Sea Cliff.”
Beyond the food, the bazaar will also feature raffles, a white elephant table, hand-knit sweaters, and crafts from local families. For those looking for a meal, the church will serve lunch and a grill offering hot dogs, sausage and peppers, chips and drinks.
The event supports the church’s operating budget, which covers building upkeep and staff salaries. Heurtly said it is just as important for the wider community, and remembered how the one year it didn’t take place, she was stopped in the street by people wanting to know when the bazaar was happening that year.
“People wait all year for this bazaar,” she said. “We think it is an important thing, not just for the church itself, but for the community of Sea Cliff and beyond.”
The bazaar will also offer online ordering through the church website, allowing customers to pick up pre-packed items on the day of the event. For more information, visit the church’s website at SaintLukes-SeaCliff.org.
