<p class="p1">For shoppers in search of unique wreaths, jewelry, jams, stained glass and other hand-crafted treasures, the 27th annual Country Club Arts and Crafts Fair at St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church, 1500 Country Club Road, may just have everything they need.</p><p class="p1">Over 55 vendors from Louisiana, Texas and Georgia are expected at the event, Oct. 6 and 7.</p><p class="p1">“This year, about half the vendors are ones that have been here before, and the other half are new,” said fair coordinator Beth Bowers.</p><p class="p1">Craft fair visitors can knock out a lot of their holiday shopping at the event, and also find some one-of-a-kind and unusual items, Bowers said.</p><p class="p1">“One new vendor this year is a lady who is bringing in some fancy hibiscus plants,” she said. </p><p class="p1">The craft fair will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Admission is free.</p><p class="p1">Jambalaya and barbecue sandwiches will be sold Friday, and Boy Scout Troop 1 will sell hamburgers Saturday. A bake sale will take place both days.</p><p class="p1">Attendees can also visit the church’s annual Pumpkin Patch, which will be open Oct. 2-31, offering pumpkins of all sizes. Pumpkin prices start at 50 cents and average about $10 apiece, Bowers said.</p><p class="p1">The pumpkins are grown on an Indian reservation in New Mexico, and the crop provides jobs for many reservation residents.</p><p class="p1">Hours for the Pumpkin Patch will be 2-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and noon-7 p.m. Sundays.</p><p class="p1">Proceeds from the events benefit church missions.</p><p>When a truckload of 2,700 pumpkins and gourds arrived at St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church Sunday, church members were on hand to unload them and set up shop for the church’s annual pumpkin patch. Pumpkins are offered for sale at the church at 1500 Country Club Rd. from 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sundays from now until Halloween. Prices range from fifty cents to $50. There are also bales of hay and pumpkin carving kits for sale. All proceeds from the pumpkin patch will benefit the church’s mission work.</p>Donna Price