A State College church will cross a major milestone this coming weekend when it hosts another rendition of its annual holiday festival.
University Baptist and Brethren Church, 411 S. Burrowes St., will host its 40th annual Alternative Christmas Fair on Sunday, Dec. 4. From 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., the congregation will help raise funds for local charities and encourage guests to purchase donations in others’ names as holiday gifts.
The fair returns in person this year for the first time since 2019. Inside the church’s Fellowship Hall, guests can snack on cider and cookies while browsing charity displays, chatting with representatives and potentially providing donations, which are payable by cash, check or credit card.
Those who can’t attend the festival in person are welcome to donate online from Dec. 4 to 18.
This year’s Alternative Christmas Fair will raise funds for 31 local and national charities, including new additions Reading IS Enlightening (RISE) and Ridgelines. Other participating organizations include Centre County PAWS, Centre Helps, Out of the Cold and the Mid-State Literary Council.
In 2021, the Alternative Christmas Fair raised $43,401 for 29 nonprofits, according to the church. Since 1982, UBBC’s annual holiday event has collected $827,895.71 for participating organizations.
Event organizers said in a statement that the upcoming fair caps off an eventful four decades for UBBC and its community.
“I reflect with gratitude on the generosity of our community as we reach the 40th anniversary of the Alternative Christmas Fair,” said Gail Guss, the fair’s committee chair. “It has been a gift to witness the interaction of over 30 charities with a community who supports them through interest and donations. From children choosing teacher gifts to loved ones being honored, the Alternative Christmas Fair provides an opportunity to live out our values of service, simplicity, justice, and compassion.”
While the 40th annual Alternative Christmas Fair is a notable milestone, it’s not the most significant for the congregation in 2022. UBBC is commemorating its 100th anniversary this year, marked by a centennial celebration that prompted events throughout the spring, summer and fall. A more detailed look at the church’s history is available online.
For more information on the congregation’s upcoming fair, visit University Baptist and Brethren Church’s event page.
