Early arrivals braved the cold outside the St. John’s Episcopal fellowship hall in Bainbridge on Saturday morning as they waited for the traditional opening of the church’s annual bazaar.

Tracy Harrington was doing a brisk business on the lawn selling old-fashioned rose bushes, while raffle tickets to win a registered French Brittany female puppy, donated by Goodbye Kennels; a 14-karet white gold, synthetic diamond-cut green garnet ring, donated by Kres Jewelers; and a Smith and Wesson rifle donated by Southern Trading and Pawn were being sold at a nearby table.

Eager shoppers were visiting and detailing what they were there to buy.

One lady was heard to say she comes every year and does most of her Christmas shopping at the bazaar, while others spoke of what foods they were looking forward to buying.

Once the doors opened for business at 10 a.m., people scrambled in to find their favorite jellies, fig jams, home-baked breads and dry soup mixes, from the holiday decorated tables.