Whether you were buying or just browsing, the annual Theodore Parker Church Winter Fair in West Roxbury on Saturday, Nov. 2 offered up a chance to buy holiday gifts, ready-to-eat homemade baked goods and other food items, enjoy live Christmas music, the opportunity to socialize with neighbors and support a local church.

First begun in 2014 with just eight vendors from the Brookline Senior Center who made and sold knitted items, the winter fair has now grown to over 30 vendors, who seemed to offer something for everyone, with many local arts and crafts artisan creations, homemade baked goods and soup, hot dogs for those who needing a quick bite on the run, raffle baskets, a silent quilt auction, and Grammas Attic with treasures for those with the time to sort through an array of used clothing, dishware, and one-off items.

Fair coordinators, Jen Buchwald and Jennifer Bottomley say they attended other UU (Unitarian Universalism) fairs over the years to learn what works. The fair is so successful it may have hit vendor capacity.

Unless we start knocking down walls, said Bottomley.

Gift baskets are quite popular, said Buchwald, remarking on past favorites with buyers.

People who attended really like the variety of vendors and were drawing on the local community, added Bottomley.

Scheduling it in November appears to have paid off. We found that a lot of UU churches had their fairs the first week of December, so we decided to move it in front of Thanksgiving. Vendors are often busy with other fairs, said Bottomley.

One of the more unique and flexible vendors, Petrichor Bookstore, had owners Christopher and wife Mallory Rohrig manning a table and a rack of books. Newly opened, Petrichor Books is a mobile bookstore built into the back of a Japanese truck and is usually at various outdoor locations around the city. This was their first appearance at an indoor fair. Usually we drive around Boston, and we sell books right off the back of the truck, he said. With the cold weather, they decided to try an indoor event. Childrens books and adult fiction/non-fiction are available.

Shopper, Elysia Larson made it to the fair after wanting to attend for years. Weve lived in West Roxbury for five years and I would see the banner (hanging outside the church) too late, she said. She said she was not looking for anything specific, whatever grabs our eyes. We already bought a used book. It was worth the trip already. We did the raffle.

Larsons mother Johanne, visiting from Vermont for the weekend, was also in attendance. She just found out about the fair 20 minutes before. I said Im in. I love these things. I really do. If I didnt have so many mittens, Id get a pair of mittens, she said, pointing to a table selling mittens made from recycled sweaters.

Lori Stallings was another happy buyer, holding a small loaf of homemade cranberry bread from the bake sale for a Thanksgiving get together Saturday night. I might even say I made it, but I didnt, she confessed. I am a return customer. I love coming here for the baked goods and just supporting the community, she said. I love how they have the Christmas carolers behind us and everyone is so inviting here.

Kimberly Cherry was perusing the childrens books. Just wanted to check it out. This is my first time to the fair. Ive already bought some mittens. I have a kid so Im checking out the kids books. She appreciates the churchs shared community values. We found out about it just by attending here. We wanted to support local artists and business folks.

I bought earrings for my mom, said Jana Pollack, opening the small box with her purchase. I know her tasteshell get a kick out of me getting these here, she said as her mother attends the UU church in Arlington and was at their fair held at the same time. She stopped at the West Roxbury fair just by accident. We were nearby for my sons event at his school, and I saw the sign. I love Christmas fairs.

For more information on the Theo Parker, go to https://www.tparkerchurch.org