The men of St. Dunstan Anglican Church won a year ago, beating the women by $5.

“We think they just put the $5 in,” Norma Campbell said with a laugh.

Each year at the church’s Holly Berry Bazaar, the men and women of St. Dunstan compete against each other to see who can raise the most money by selling their baking.

Norma’s confident the ladies will win this year, like they’ve done seven times in the last 12 years, she said on Nov. 26 at this year’s bazaar, which kicked off the holiday season.

“[Women] bake, we bake, and then we fight,” joked Malcolm Campbell, who sported a Santa hat.

He and his team baked muffins, date squares, oatmeal cookies and English spice cakes. Raffle tickets to win a cake with $100 baked inside were also up for sale.

“All money goes to the church and we are all volunteers here,” Malcolm said. “The bazaar is good for helping us to keep the church going.”

Santa passed out candy canes and friendly greetings to visitors to the bazaar. In addition to the homemade baked goods, wreathes, painted porcelain and jams lined tables, on display for those looking for that perfect Christmas gift.

A group of women known as “crafteys” meet every Monday and make some of the items that go up for sale at the bazaar, convener Margret Joseph says.

The group consists of 20 ladies from the church, said Norma, a crafty herself.

“Knitting, sewing — you name it, we can do it,” she said, adding her favourite items to make are knitted sweaters and hats. “Some ladies make jewellery, some knit, some sew — we have all talents.”

“Everyone works really hard so [the bazaar] is always a success,” Joseph said.