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St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Andalusia will kick off the holiday season with its first annual Holiday Jubilee on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Activities planned for the event include fine art and handmade gifts, a bake sale, live music, and food and drinks. St. Mary’s Rector Eric Mancil said the idea for the jubilee was formed this summer.

“Our church came together and thought about creating an event centered around the holidays to coincide with Christmas in Candyland. I started talking to some of our parishioners, and we developed an arts and crafts-themed event,” Mancil said.

Local artists and vendors will be set up in the church’s parking lot selling art pieces and other items. Each vendor will pay the church a fee, and all the proceeds will go to support the ministries of the parish.

Mancil described the event as being similar to a holiday bazaar.

“We will be outside weather permitting with several vendors. With this being our first year, we wanted to keep the event small and have already reached out to vendors who will be in attendance. If we see that it becomes successful, we may open the event to more artists and vendors in the future. This jubilee will be a great way for the public to get some holiday shopping done and support our local artists,” he said.

Local musicians will provide live music at the event. Lunch will also be available with hamburgers and hot dogs for sale. Sister Schubert will be on hand selling and signing copies of her cookbook. Grit + Grind Coffee will also be at the event.

The church is also accepting pre-orders for live advent wreaths that will be made at the church.

“We have a group called the Garden Guild who will be working to put those together for people who are interested in having a wreath in their homes during the Advent season. Wreaths can be pre-ordered and picked up on the day of the event,” Mancil said.

According to Mancil, the church parking lot will be blocked off during the event. Parking will be along the streets around the church, across the street next to the city’s water tower, or at the Beas Knees Yoga Studio.

Mancil said he hopes to make this an annual event on the first Saturday of December each year.

“We will see how much of a success we have at our first jubilee this year, make any changes we see that are necessary, and keep going in the future,” Mancil said.

For more information call the church at 334-222-2487.