It is obvious that Christmas isn’t far away when the weekend Bazaars and the Bainbridge Holiday Open House all hit on the same Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving.

St. John’s Episcopal Bazaar, long a Bainbridge tradition for more years than anyone can recall, happens on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in time to help buyers prepare for Thanksgiving and get a jump start on Christmas decorating and gift giving.

This year the event will be Saturday, November 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The famous Episcopal chicken salad luncheon will be served for eat-in or carry-out from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As event coordinator, Juliet Richards pointed out, the church has long been known for their homemade items of Christmas decorations and home baked goods. There will also be opportunities to purchase frozen casseroles and old fashioned cornmeal dressing for Thanksgiving dinner. There are home baked pies, breads, cakes and canned jellies and preserves.

As always, there are hand-knit blankets, throws and scarves. This year champion knitter Carol DeSanto has added several knit children’s toy animals and dolls.

Chris Nelson’s Moravian and Bethlehem stars will be available, while a new item this year is the set of graduated hand-painted Santas created by Alice Warner. They are perfect for decorating mantels or tables.

A white elephant sale is also offering several small kitchen appliances, decorative lamps, framed artwork and a variety of miscellaneous items

The Bizarre Bazaar has a much shorter history, having been organized in the last few years. It opens at the Firehouse Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. running to 4 p.m., and continues on Sunday the 22 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Weather permitting there will also be outdoor vendors on Water Street, which will be closed to traffic.

Many local and area crafts persons and artists will be displaying their unique collections of jewelry and handmade items designed to meet decorating and gift-giving needs. There will also be food to fuel shopper’s appetites.

It reopens on Sunday afternoon in collaboration with the Bainbridge Downtown Open House, featuring local merchants who will open their stores from 1 to 5 p.m. Additional activities will be held in Willis Park.

The Decatur County Genealogical Society will celebrate the 20 Year Anniversary that same day and time at The Fleming Building, located on the square at 114 E. Broughton Street. Joyce Kramer will also be there to sign her book “River Rover Chronicles.”