GALVESTON — Home-baked flower cakes, gourmet coffee, books, spices, salsa, barbecue sandwiches, jewelry and handcrafted gifts are among the offerings at the free Seaside Treasure Festival slated for Friday and Saturday in Galveston.
The event will be held, come rain or shine, at Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, 53rd Street and Avenue U, two blocks off the seawall.
Proceeds will support local missions work, including the Moody Menders, who help with home repairs.
“It’s just a wonderful Christmas bazaar,” Polly Kent, who has volunteered with the festival for four years, said. “It has something for everyone.”
The festival will include:
• More than 90 arts and crafts vendors, including Maceo Spice and Import Company of Galveston, the Stagecoach Salsa Co. of San Antonio, and Rose Knippenberg of Houston with jewelry, purses and decorative accessories.
• Silent auction, with offerings to include a Mariner’s Gift Basket with a framed and authenticated piece of the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), Fiesta Gift Basket with homemade salsas and tamales, and Holiday Family Movie Night Basket.
• Pet adoption booth with Galveston Island Human Society.
• Moody Memorial First United Methodist Library used book sale.
• Libbie’s Place Sweet Shoppe with home-baked goods, holiday desserts and flower cakes.
• Gourmet coffee bar, staffed by student ministry volunteers.
• Grill, serving hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos and soft drinks, staffed by student ministry volunteers.
• Seaside Cafe, serving a Southwest Chicken Salad with chipotle ranch dressing, and barbecue beef sandwiches.
• Angel Tree, filled with names of children from the AIDS Coalition and Salvation Army.
• Free registration for drawing to win an international cuisine basket.
“People are really excited about this year,” Jenifer Leonpacher, event chairwoman, said. “Because of Ike, people are ready to get full swing into the Christmas spirit.”
Leonpacher has worked with the festival seven years, part of a crew of more than 100 volunteers. The festival draws several church ministries, and generations of participants. “This has really become a church wide event,” she said.
Alice Williams, director of Libbie’s Place Adult Day Service, helps staff the Sweet Shoppe, with proceeds going to the nonprofit organization providing medical and social services and caregiver support. “Look for smiling faces and people wearing white chef aprons,” she said.
She has worked with the festival six years, enjoying the opportunity for fellowship. “This is free,” she said. “You can just come and walk around and visit.”
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At A Glance
WHAT: 11th annual Seaside Treasure Festival benefiting Galveston mission and outreach work
WHEN: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, 53rd Street and Avenue U, in Galveston
COST: Free
CONTACT: moody.org/stf, stf(at)moody.org or 409-744-4526, Ext. 783.
