Christmas Bazaar on Sunday

Thanksgiving was a lovely respite from angel and ornament marketing. Now I am back using the last remnants of Where the River Shannon Flows and some other musical pieces.

On Sunday, December 4 I’ll be setting up shop at the Irish American Heritage Center’s Christmas Bazaar. The Bazaar is from 9 am to 3 pm, but the day holds a variety of activities until 9 pm. The day starts with mass, breakfast, a craft and bake sale, music, dance and a visit from Santa Claus.

The Irish American Heritage Center is located at 4626 N Knox Avenue in Chicago. Mass is celebrated in the auditorium at 10:30am, with music by the Irish Heritage Singers. A traditional Irish breakfast follows in the Erin Room. The Fifth Province Pub will be open at noon and into the evening for live music and a cash bar.

Featured entertainment includes the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, Mulhern School of Irish Dance, The Irish Heritage Singers, Academy of Irish Music, Parick and Karen Cannady, Tim O’Sullivan and the O’Sullivan Fiddlers, Shepard’s Irish Music School and Murphy Roche Irish Music School.

Vendors include Images of Ireland, Nimble Thimbles, Rampant Lion Celtic Traders, Galway Bakers, Chicago Calligraphy Collective, Blossoms and Berries, Because I Like It and more (including me). Tickets for the breakfast are $12 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under and reservations are required.

There is no charge to browse and shop the craft and bake sale and shoppers can enjoy the craft sale from 9am to 3pm with Chicago artisans. The IAHC Gift Shop will be open all day for shoppers.  Santa Claus visits from 1 to 3pm and will pose for photos with each child. Attendees can bring a canned good for the IAHC’s Holiday Food Drive for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. To purchase tickets for the breakfast, click or call 773-282-7035, ext. 10 by December 1.

The mission of the Irish American Heritage Center is to nurture and strengthen Irish culture and heritage through programs emphasizing Irish music, literature, drama, traditional dancing, fine arts and the constructive contributions of the Irish and Irish-Americans to the United States of America.

The Irish American Heritage Center supports this mission by maintaining its resources, including the museum, Irish school, archives, choir, art gallery, auditorium, library, theatre group and other related programs and partnerships, while providing a gathering place for the Irish American community and those interested in Irish culture.The Irish American Heritage Center is one of the premiere Irish cultural organizations in the United States. It is a destination for people of Irish descent as well as those who wish to learn more about the Irish heritage.

My friend gave me a stack of vintage music, but it veers toward the classical rather than Irish Ballads, so these last two pendants may be all the Irish music I can do for a while.