The Ella White Christmas Bazaar has been a community favorite since it began in the 1980s.

The event will feature over 60 vendors, a PTO bake sale, and classroom raffle baskets, with the drawing to be held at 2 p.m. All proceeds from the classroom raffle baskets go back to the classrooms. Tickets will be sold near the media center.

There will also be a barbecue pulled pork sandwich fundraiser to support the eighth grade Shooters travel basketball team.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be at the bazaar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

News File Photo Sara MacArthur poses with her creative wares at a prior year’s Ella White Christmas Bazaar. This year’s bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Thunder Bay Junior High School.

Ella White PTO President Kristin Barden and PTO Treasurer Jenny Werda were readying the classroom raffle baskets on Monday morning.

“We have 22 baskets,” Barden said. “Some are per teacher, and some are per grade. Each teacher had their students or parents donate items to fill their baskets, and they picked a theme. They filled their baskets, and we’re wrapping them.”

Raffle tickets are one for $1, six for $5, and 25 for $20.

Some of the classroom raffle baskets are worth $300 to $500.

“At the end of the bazaar, we count the tickets, and then, that’s the amount of money each teacher takes back, because all of the money goes directly back to that classroom, teacher, or grade,” Barden explained. “And then, they use it for field trips, classroom needs, supplies, anything that they need for this year to make their year better and fun for their kids.”

One of the themed baskets is called Family Fun, valued at $300.

“It’s got a lot of gift cards — bowling, movies, that type of thing,” Barden said.

Another is called Date Night, valued at over $500.

“That is all around the town of Alpena, full of fun stuff to do on a date night,” Barden explained.

One of the baskets even includes a new guitar.

“We have a guitar,” Barden said. “This is for the music teacher, gym teacher, and art teacher. This is their basket, and they’re doing a guitar, and they’ve got art supplies.”

There will be many more themed baskets to choose from.

“We not only have stuff for adults, like Date Night, but we have a lot of stuff for kids, like our slime basket, we have a Squishmallow basket,” Barden said. “We do have fun stuff for the kids.”

Other themed baskets include items like Stanley tumblers, a YETI cooler, kitchen supplies, many local gift cards, lottery tickets, and more.

“We’ve got a family adventure to Boyne Mountain,” Barden added. “So, an array of things. We have one coming that’s a huge coffee and chocolate basket. Hopefully, people will find one that they like.”

The bazaar was held at Ella White for many years, then moved to the high school several years ago, and now, this will be the second year it is held at Thunder Bay Junior High School.

Werda said the junior high location has been wonderful.

“It’s nice,” she said. “It’s more spread out.”

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from having it at the junior high,” Barden said. “So that’s why we chose to go back there again. And we are thankful that the junior high is letting us come and use their school. They’re awesome to work with.”

Anyone hoping to buy some Wildcat gear can also do so on Saturday.

“Campus Closet will be open at the high school, so you can shop at ours, then go over to the high school and get your Alpena stuff,” Barden added.

Also at the bazaar, crafts made by students at Pied Piper School will be available for purchase.

“It is the Ella White Bazaar, but it’s really a community event,” Barden said.

“People look forward to it every year,” Werda added.

“They know it’s coming,” Barden added. “People always have been extremely supportive of this bazaar. We’re just excited to bring it back.”