By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

Homemade goodies will be the focus of Berlin’s multi-day Christmas shopping event that will place on the four Saturdays after Thanksgiving.

The annual Merry Marketplace, as promotion is known, is slated for downtown Berlin from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13, and Dec. 20.

The shopping Saturdays will feature a variety of items, including homemade soaps, flower arrangements, baked goods, and hot chocolate. For the second year in a row, the markets are being hosted by the Ocean City/ Berlin Rotary Club.

The group’s co-president, Margaret Mudron, said that the organization uses the marketeplace as a fundraiser for charitable causes, such as its annual scholarship program, which provides funds for college expenses to Stephen Decatur High School students. The Berlin marketplace has replaced what used to be the Rotary Club’s most profitable campaign, selling Christmas trees.

According to Mudron, the Rotary Club’s Christmas tree supplier halted its replanting at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving a gap in the amount of money they were able to secure. The club sought another opportunity to raise the funds necessary to continue its initiatives, and when they had the chance to take over the Merry Marketplace, which had been operating in Berlin for a few years, they jumped at the offer.

Shoppers this year can expect appearances from two local authors, coffee and roasted chestnuts from Cast 26 Coffee (formerly known as Iron Skillet Coffee), floral arrangements from Little Miss Lovely, homemade soaps from Beehouse Soaps, Lyon Rum, and a few returners from the Berlin Farmers Market. Mudron added that she will have a tent with jams, jellies, and biscuits.

In addition, the Rotary Club will be selling hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.

Event organizers have a few vendor spots left, either for one day of the market or all four. Items must be homemade. Any sellers who want to get in on the holiday action can email ocberlinrotary@gmail.com for more information.

Meanwhile, the Rotary Club is looking to make a few adjustments to this year’s schedule. Mudron said that they hope to have some type of entertainment in the middle of the events, like band and/ or choir performances. They will also have festive characters, such as Olaf from the Disney movie “Frozen,” walking around the fair spreading holiday cheer.

“This is the second year that the club is doing [the marketplace], and we’re learning to improve as we go,” Mudron said.

The Rotary Club will use the event’s proceeds to fund its scholarship program for high school seniors in the area. Additionally, Mudron said that the organization has adopted pre-K classrooms at Ocean City Elementary School, Showell Elementary School, and Buckingham Elementary School.

The service team supplies these teachers and students with materials like books and healthy snacks as often as possible. This year, the club aims to help out six pre-k groups throughout the north end of Worcester County. Organizers hope that residents and visitors of Berlin and the surrounding areas use the fair as a way to stock up on Christmas and Hanukkah presents.

 “[The markets] are a great place to do your holiday shopping,” Mudron said.