"Come out and enjoy the day and see what we have to offer," said Betty Mahan, encouraging people to attend an art, craft and yard sale hosted by Holy Trinity Catholic Church. "You'll be surprised to see everything we have." The event will be held on Saturday, June 4, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Janson Park, Sixth and Cherry streets, Columbia.

This is the second year for the event, which originated during the pandemic. "We couldn't do our traditional fastnacht sale last year, so we formed the St. Matthew's Ministry committee to come up with other ideas to raise money for the church," explained Jeanmarie Nobile, who, along with Mahan, is one of the committee members. The fastnacht sale returned this year, but last year's inaugural art, craft and yard sale was so successful, the church members decided to do it again this year.

"We got lots of great feedback on last year's event, and everybody seemed to have a really good time," Nobile noted.

This year's event has expanded in size, she said, adding that there will be about 50 vendors at the park. "We have people who make jewelry, someone who makes recycled aluminum can art and someone who makes clay figures," she commented. She highlighted two unique vendors - Aingeal's Burp Cloths, which donates all of its proceeds from its handmade items to help fund medical units for stillborn babies - and Virgin Iron Blacksmithing, which creates hand-forged items.

"Some of the merchants in town have tables, and a lot of the organizations in our parish are participating," Nobile said. The Columbia Public Library will have an area set up outside just down the block from the park, Mahan remarked. "The day is a coordinated community effort," she said.

Along with crafters, the event will feature yard sale tables and a variety of food stands, including shaved ice. The church will also be selling food, including baked goods and pulled pork sandwiches. Tickets will be available to purchase for a cash giveaway as well.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the church's general fund, Mahan said. "The money will go toward various projects and needs of the church," she explained. The decision to hold the event in Janson Park was a deliberate effort to draw attention to a space that has a history of being a vibrant area in Columbia, she noted. "It's a really nice space, with plenty of shade, and there is a little play area for the kids," she said. "It's a perfect place for this."

The event will be held rain or shine, and Nobile invites everyone to attend. "It's going to be a fun day to focus on the camaraderie of the town and promote Columbia," she remarked. Parking will be available in the lot at Holy Trinity, 409 Cherry St.

Spaces are still available for vendors to rent. For more information, call the church office at 717-684-2711.