The giving spirit was alive in Gravesend last weekend as Our Lady of Grace Parish held its annual Christmas Fair on Friday, November 17, Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19.
Along with collecting unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots, the weekend fair was chock full of activities including vendors selling new items, a breakfast and pictures with Santa, and hot and cold food and desserts. This year’s event also saw an exciting raffle as well as face painting and a handful of other family-friendly, holiday-oriented activities.
“It was very successful,” said longtime organizer Mary Ann De Luca. “We had 130 kids for breakfast with Santa which went very well and we had 60 vendors at the fair — so we had 60 tables selling new, used and thrift shop items. The Columbiettes of Our Lady of Grace were there as well, and we had raffles where we gave away things like an air-fryer and a gift certificate to Michael’s Restaurant.
“The fair does well for the church,” she went on, looking toward the parish’s next event — a Christmas tree lighting on December 9. “It’s a fundraiser and it’s one of the biggest fundraisers besides the church’s card party.”
Though DeLuca is the event’s coordinator, she said, she “[has] a great team.”
Our Lady of Grace is located at 385 Avenue W.