Gift festival offers fair trade merchandise

The annual holiday International Gift Festival at Mountain View Mennonite Church provides a unique opportunity to purchase handmade items from around the world.  

The festival runs Thursday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church in Creston. 

Since 1999, the church has been hosting the gift festival that also includes the opportunity to purchase a meal and on Friday evening a free concert.  

The major supplier of gifts is Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization in the United States that markets handcrafted products made by artisans in more than 30 countries. 

Handcrafted items for sale include Christmas ornaments and decorations, baskets, jewelry, linens, purses, paper goods, instruments, toys, decorative items, pots, kitchen goods and much more. Fairtrade chocolate and coffee will also be for sale.  

This year, the festival hosts Global Mamas. Handmade in Ghana, items include vibrant batik clothing, recycled glass jewelry, bath and body products, home decor, and accessories are all crafted using traditional methods.

During the festival, the Village Cafe offers a variety of food for purchase. The menu includes African ground nut stew, sweet and spicy sirloin chili, vegetarian corn chowder, homemade pies, fresh rolls, cookies, chai tea and coffee.  

On Friday at 7 p.m., the Crown of the Continent Choir performs a free concert.

Proceeds from the sale go to benefit a variety of charities.  

Mountain View Mennonite Church is located at 795 Mennonite Church Road in Creston. For more information, call 406-755-8772 or visit mountainviewmennonite.org.