From tasty boxed lunches to festive holiday cakes, candies and cookies, and cozy, colorful scarves to handmade Christmas decor—all these things and more could be found in the Georgiana Community House on Saturday. The Three Arts Club of Georgiana and Chapman held their annual Christmas bazaar, preparing 240 of their signature boxed lunches, pre-ordered at $5 each, for pick up that day.

“We’ve had a good day, a busy day,” said retired educator and club member Brenda Gruenewald, who was manning the payment station with fellow member Sue Gaston. “I’d say we’ve sold quite a bit.” Other members assisted visitors in choosing from the large assortment of baked goods, from streusel-topped blueberry muffins to miniature cream cheese pound cakes, all festively packaged. There were also various confections–rocky road candy, peanut butter fudge and more—homemade preserves, cheese balls, Mason jar gift mixes and cheerful mugs packaged with Christmas cookies and hot chocolate.

Shoppers could browse among handmade crocheted items, fabric and wood crafts, many with a holiday theme, as well as a collection of flea market finds for the home at bargain prices.

And Santa, a busy man in south Butler County with two parades that day, was also present at the bazaar. He welcomed youngsters to his big white chair by the sparkling Christmas tree to hear all about their hopes and dreams for the holidays and happily posed for photos with the wide-eyed children.

“Santa is just the best, isn’t he?” said Gruenewald with a smile. “Someone told him he couldn’t be the real Santa because he had a fake beard. He told them to tug it and see. It is very much real! We are so fortunate to have him here with us.”

Preston Lowery of Georgiana was one of the youngsters who got to meet and talk with Santa. The little boy, who has appeared with his farm pets inside the Butler County Humane Society pet calendar, seemed quietly delighted to have a change to hang out with the jolly old elf himself.

The Three Arts Club donates to a number of worthy causes with funds raised by events like the annual Christmas bazaar. “We have given away as many as four $1,000 college scholarships in one year to area seniors,” said Gaston. They also assist indigent families in the area, support the Butler County Humane Society, the Greenville Area Arts Council, the Hank Williams, Sr. Festival and the Hank Williams Museum and Boyhood Home, Safe Harbor (Children’s Advocacy Center), the City of Georgiana’s Halloween Celebration, Alabama Girls State and more projects and programs with the funds raised.

“We want to thank everyone who stopped in to pick up their lunches, to shop at our bazaar or just visit with Santa. It was a wonderful day,” said Gruenewald.