The aroma of homemade soup and chili wafted through the fellowship hall at the Escalon United Methodist Church on Saturday, Oct. 26 as the annual holiday bazaar/soup and pie luncheon was hosted at the Jackson Avenue location.

With the bazaar portion of the event opening at 9 a.m. and running until 3 p.m., shoppers had plenty of time to peruse the wide variety of items available. The luncheon hours were 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a portion of the fellowship hall is set aside as the ‘café’ area, with diners turning in their orders and a crew filling them in the kitchen while another team delivered them to the tables. To-go orders were filled as well.

A homemade vegetable soup and a homemade chili were both available and the lunch menu also included Genova French bread and a slice of pie, along with a beverage. The pies were available for purchase, as church members made and froze several different flavors. Whole pies could be bought for take home baking. In the same area, rows of homemade jams and jellies took center stage, with two sizes offered.

Meanwhile, the display tables set up at the church offered up items including handcrafted wooden trays, puzzles and birdhouses; embroidered hand towels, aprons, holiday ornaments, placemats, stockings, shelf sitters and more.

Some chose to just shop, others to just eat, but many opted for both activities, while also having the chance to catch up on visiting with friends and neighbors.

This year marked the 27th annual Holiday Bazaar and, working like a well-oiled machine, with crews running the kitchen, the pie area, the jams and jellies corner, ticket sales for a quilt drawing, and the team at the front table ringing up all the purchases, it was once again a success.