The Hancock Woman’s Club holiday craft fair returns on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hancock Meetinghouse and vestry at 47 Main St. in Hancock. The fair will feature more than 30 local vendors, artists, artisans and craftspeople, as well as a homemade lunch by club members.

“Our first craft fair was a big success last year. Many of the vendors told me it was best one they had ever been to,” said organizer Marcia Schwartz. “We are so fortunate in Hancock Woman’s Club that we have so many wonderful volunteers who can make this happen.”

The $5 lunch of homemade soup, two cookies and a drink will be available for sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will include vegetarian and gluten-free options.

For more than 100 years, the Hancock Woman’s Club has raised funds for local causes and organized social and educational events for the Town of Hancock.  Previously, the annual Hancock holiday craft fair was organized by the woman’s guild of the  Hancock First Congregational Church. 

“The woman’s guild organized the craft fair forever, but they had to stop with the pandemic, and our group took it over last year,” Schwartz said.

Schawartz said organization is key to running a successful fair. 

“I think the vendors like that we are very organized, and that we give people enough space. People put their hearts and souls into the things they make, and at some craft fairs, you can’t even see people’s work because it is so crowded. We made sure there is enough room for people to walk through and for people to stand and talk as well as plenty of room for the vendors,” Schwartz said. 

This year’s fair will have 30 vendors spread across the Meeting House and the vestry next door. 

“This year, we’re having a live wreath-making demonstration outside the vestry, because we want to be sure everyone knows to  go in there,” Schwartz said. “Last year, I am not sure everyone got into both buildings.” 

Joyce Perry, a longtime member and former president of the Hancock Woman’s Club, said the fair attracts high-quality artisans, artists and crafters. 

“We had great success getting really high-quality vendors last year,” Perry said. “Most of them were really happy with the turnout, and most of them are coming back this year, which tells you that it was a great event.” 

“Last year, I heard a few people say they had never sold so much before, and everyone said they did really well,” Schwartz said. “This is a wonderful fundraiser for our group because it does not cost us a lot as far as expense, and all the money we raise goes to charity.”

Funds raised by the event go to local charitable causes and to the Hancock Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund. 

“One of our missions is to support women in the community,” Perry said. “We provide scholarships for adult women who are trying to further their career, whether it’s nursing, teaching, business, any kind of legitimate professional or educational training.” 

Items for sale will include handcrafted baskets, pottery, woodwork, jewelry, seasonal table runners and other fabric holiday items, handmade wreaths and holiday greens, live plants, photography, paintings and gift baskets. The club will also be selling raffle tickets for gift baskets of items donated by vendors, as well as for a handmade quilt created by club members. 

“Each craft vendor is required to donate one item for the raffle to take part in the fair, so we have some really lovely things to raffle off,”  Perry said.

Winners of the club’s August raffle, which featured a handmade shawl, will be announced on Saturday. 

The craft fair kicks off the woman’s club year of programming and giving.

“This is the kickoff for fundraising for the rest of the year. After the craft fair, we can make a plan for the year, and we know how much we will be able to give to causes in our community,” Perry said. 

For information about the Hancock Woman’s Club, go to facebook.com/hancockwomansclubhancocknewhampshire.