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What is a bazaar?

Also called: church bazaar, holiday bazaar, craft bazaar · Used in United States, Canada and the UK

A bazaar is a one-day sale of donated goods, handmade crafts and baked goods, usually held by a church, school or charity to raise money. It is often set up indoors in a hall or gym, so bazaars run in winter too, especially before the holidays.

What it actually means in practice

A bazaar differs from a rummage sale in what is on the tables: a bazaar has more handmade crafts, home baking and holiday items, while a rummage sale is mostly donated used household goods priced to clear.

Buyers should go early, because the baking and the best crafts sell first, and bring cash in small bills, since many volunteer tables do not take cards. Church sales near you are listed at /church-sales.

Rummage saleA rummage sale is run by a group — a church, school, club or charity — rather than a single household. Donated goods are pooled and sold, usually in a hall over one or two days, and the proceeds go to the organisation rather than to any individual seller.Church saleA church sale is a sale of donated household goods, run by church volunteers to raise money for the church or its charity work. It is the same event as a church rummage sale or a British jumble sale: members give the goods, volunteers price them low and the money goes to the church.Jumble saleA jumble sale is a charity sale of donated goods, traditionally run by a church, school or scout group in a parish hall, with proceeds going to the organisation. It is the British equivalent of a church rummage sale, and the same scramble-at-the-bargain-stall format.

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Every bazaar posted nearby is on one map, sorted by distance, with dates, hours and photos. Hosting one yourself? Posting is free and takes about two minutes.

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