Holiday season kicks off at East Sangerville Grange

    SANGERVILLE — On Saturday, Nov. 2 the East Sangerville Grange will kick off the holiday season with the 38th annual Holiday Craft Fair. That evening the 20th annual Coffee House concert series swings into action with a concert by gypsy jazz legends Ameranouche. The festivities start at 9 a.m. when the Grange opens  for the craft fair.

    The 100-year-old Grange hall, on a hill overlooking the woods and fields of Piscataquis County, is the ideal setting for this day of shopping, eating and meeting old and new friends. The two floors of crafters will include favorite vendors from years past as well as new sellers offering a wide range of goods both for holiday gifts in all price ranges and for your pantry or perhaps to indulge yourself.  The items for sale will include sweaters, mittens, tea cozies, and other hand-knit or hand-crocheted items; gifts crafted from wood, metal and stained glass; folk art; watercolors; calendars and cards; baskets; pottery; hand-made soaps and other toiletries — something for everyone. Edibles available include local maple and blueberry products, honey, jams, jellies, pickles, and culinary and medicinal herbs.
    The craft fair wouldn’t be complete without Grange members serving up their justly famous lunch beginning at 10 a.m. The menu will include homemade quiche, salad, minestrone soup, panini sandwiches and a selection of hard-to-resist baked desserts. Fair organizer Bob Winters wants to emphasize that this is an all-day event, “If the morning crowds seem a bit much, plan to arrive later, confident that there will be plenty to buy and plenty to eat all day long.” The Grange will collect an admission at the door to benefit the Grange Building Fund.
    In the evening, the Grange’s 20th annual coffee house season begins at 7 with Ameranouche. Ameranouche melds traditional hot Gypsy swing and lightning fast virtuoso guitar work. According to their website, “If you’ve never experienced hot acoustic swing music, now’s your chance to fall in love with the joyful, uplifting, and dance-inducing sounds of Gypsy jazz!”
    The Grange’s famously delicious deserts and strong coffee will be available to tempt attendees. Tickets are at the door and can be purchased in advance at Bob’s Hardware in Dover-Foxcroft or reserved by calling 564-2722.