MADISON – For St. John’s Advent Craft Fair this year, organizers took the advice of the fair’s vendors and shoppers and decided to hold the craft fair during Advent instead of Lent.

Shoppers can browse the fair’s merchandise and designs on Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Parish Hall at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is hosting the event.

“Historically, we have presented a Lenten/Spring Craft Fair that has benefited both the Limestone Prison Ministry and North Alabama Foster Closet,” fair co-chair Lisa Novak said. “We are excited to announce that our craft fair will return Nov. 20. This year, the craft fair will benefit The Riley Center.”

St. John’s Advent Craft Fair is a juried event. The 2021 jury members are not participating or showing their work in this year’s fair.

The Riley Center, a non-profit behavioral and education center, provides gold-standard services to children and families that autism affects in Huntsville and North Alabama. The center is committed to offering services at 50 percent below cost to families, according to co-chair Gretchen Willett.

The Riley Center seeks to provide comprehensive services using a multidisciplinary approach to fulfill the urgent need for earlier diagnosis and treatment for children and their families faced with autism. The organization feels responsibility and commitment to assist in a broader understanding of autism spectrum disorders in Madison County.

The Riley Center’s address is 306 Wynn Drive in Huntsville. For more information, call 256-882-2457 or visit therileycenter.org.

The mission of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church’s craft fair is to offer handmade items that are not readily available around Huntsville. Also, the fair is a venue for local artisans and vendors to share their God-given talents. At their booths, all vendors must have some (but not all) items related to Christian or Catholic study.

Vendors will sell quilts and quilted pieces, paintings and three-dimensional designs, pottery, decorating accessories, hand-designed greeting cards, dolls, jewelry, seasonal wreaths, books and other merchandise.

For more information, email sjbcraftfair@gmail.com.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church’s address is 1055 Hughes Road in Madison. For information, call the church office at 256-722-0130 or visit sites.google.com/view/2021stjohnscraftfair.