As the doors opened for the annual St. Davids-Queenston United Church Bazaar, local Sharon Scruton made her usual rounds, stopping at each table with a smile.

“I like to do a walk-around first, see everything, and then I come back,” she said, drawn in by a sign outside.

Scruton decided this was the perfect day to drop in and take in the warmth and camaraderie filling the church hall.

The bazaar, held on Nov. 2 at 1453 York Rd., provided community members the chance to browse tables piled high with homemade crafts, preserves, jewelry, and baked goods, while unique finds awaited them in the Loonie Bin and Attic Treasures sections.

The bazaar aimed to raise funds for church expenses, as well as to support local charities and initiatives.

Susan Cote, a regular at the church, ran one of the tables and was happy to see the turnout.

“The big table is empty — I’ve sold a ton of stuff,” she said.

Cote mentioned she’d created a cookbook and a helpful hints book to help raise funds for the church, and it was selling quickly alongside other items at her stand.

“Things have been going really well,” she said.

Church member Karen Horbach said she was thankful for the community’s support.

“We’re always happy to have the support from the community,” said Horbach. “We’re thankful for everyone for coming out today.”

Valerie Zuk, a longtime volunteer at the bazaar, shared her enthusiasm about the day’s success, saying the turnout was strong and she cleared out a lot of items from her table, which was nearly empty by the end of the day.

“All this jewelry here? It’s all donated,” she said, highlighting the variety and sustainability of treasures available.

The bazaar has become a beloved tradition over the past two decades, offering everything from local treasures to a hot lunch of homemade soup and sandwiches, she said.

Following the bazaar, Zuk said, attendees and those who couldn’t make it can look forward to monthly Friday gatherings throughout the winter, featuring beef on a bun, pie, salad, and a friendly game of cards.

The next gathering will be on Nov. 8. Attendees can enjoy all these activities for an admission price of $13.