Events This Weekend* Gingerbread Shoppe: Christ United Methodist Church, corner of Morris Hill and East Brainerd roads, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. today, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, free. 618-4519.* Santa's One-Stop Shop: Harrison Ruritan Club building, 5637 Highway 58, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, free. 344-8977.* Canyon Fest: Little River Canyon Center, 4322 Little River Trail NE, Fort Payne, Ala., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, free. Live music, nature and arts activities, children's activities.* Chickamauga Harvest Festival: Oakwood Baptist Church, 115 Oakwood St., Chickamauga, Ga., 2-5 p.m. Saturday, free food, inflatables, live music, corn hole tournament, cruise-in. 706-375-5760.
As the festival season winds down, there are two craft shows to note in East Brainerd and Harrison, as well as two community festivals in the region.
• The Gingerbread Shoppe opens its doors for the 24th year on Friday at Christ United Methodist Church. This craft show started in the late 1980s when three suburban housewives needed an outlet to sell their homemade craft projects. The trio of friends set up their first show in Hurricane Creek subdivision's clubhouse. They moved to the church 14 years ago when they outgrew the clubhouse.
This year 30 exhibitors will participate in the Gingerbread Shoppe, the maximum the church gymnasium will hold.
"It's our largest show to date," said Arlene "Red" Dueker. "We're full, and I'm turning people away."
Of that 30, five are new, Dueker said, including a mosaic tile artist, painted glassware artist and a Chattanooga notecards vendor.
Returning favorites include Angie Carter with her assortment of handmade Christmas ornaments, jewelry makers Linda Weaver and Cindy Edwards, Linda Chauncey's handpainted holiday decorations and Carol Matisak, who does monogramming on-site.
Dueker said chili, baked potatoes and hot dogs will be sold, and that money will be donated to the Bethlehem Center.
• On Saturday, travelers along Highway 58 can find Santa's One Stop Shop set up in the Harrison Ruritan Club building. It's billed as a craft show, but planners say there will be an assortment of items suitable for gift-giving available.