VERO BEACH — With the holidays just around the corner, the Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach are busily preparing for Christmas Tree Lane.
Now in its 61st season, this annual holiday bazaar and cookie sale has grown to be one of the largest such charitable events in the area, attracting hundreds of enthusiastic Christmas shoppers eager to latch onto unique gifts at attractive prices. To be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., admission is free and all are cordially invited.
Heightening the day’s festive holiday atmosphere, First Presbyterian’s new Christian Life Center will be all decked out with lighted holiday trees evocative of a country lane magically touched by Christmas.
Shoppers searching for clever stocking stuffers and upscale gift items are sure to be rewarded as they browse Christmas Tree Lane’s special boutiques. The largest, the Unique Boutique, will offer a tempting array of gift ideas, both brand-new and nearly-new, from useful kitchen items to exquisite fine china as well as household items from lamps to linens. There will be holiday decorations, games and toys, fashion jewelry, and much more to discover.
The Handmade Treasures boutique will feature a variety of one-of-a-kind items lovingly made by the church’s Sewing Circle, including charming American Girl doll outfits. An Artisans’ Gallery will showcase original jewelry, animal notecards, oil candles, painted silk scarfs, and other creative handicrafts by talented local artists.
Debuting at this year’s bazaar will be articles for sale from the Abraham Kriel School, a live-in facility for homeless children in South Africa.
The Christmas holidays and homemade cookies go hand in hand, and back again this year is one of the event’s biggest draws: the immensely popular Cookies-by-the-Pound. Here you can pick-and-choose your favorites from a mouth-watering selection of homemade cookies baked by the ladies of the church. Also on hand will be a variety of fresh and delicious Louisville Pecans, including roasted and salted, crunchy praline, and white-chocolate covered, all ideal for cooking, gifting, or just plain munching. A limited number of other baked goodies will be available as well.
Highlighting the day’s festivities will be a catered Ladies Luncheon by JoAnn Camino, featuring Quiche Lorraine with a seasonal fruit garnish, salad, a basket of breads/rolls, and chocolate mint mousse cups. A raffle of intriguing gift baskets will add to the fun. Luncheon tickets are a non-refundable donation of $25 and must be purchased in advance by calling (772) 562-9088. No luncheon tickets will be sold at the door.
Thanks to the generous support of the community, Christmas Tree Lane is one of the Presbyterian Women’s most successful fundraisers. Last year’s event enabled donations to nine area charities, including Harvest Food and Outreach Center, The Source, SafeSpace, Our Father’s Table Soup Kitchen, The Life Boat Project, Inc., Shining Light Garden Foundation, Florida Presbyterian Homes, Duval Presbyterian Home, and Thornwell Home for Children.
First Presbyterian Church is at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard, just off Indian River Boulevard, with ample off-street parking.
