It’s turkey time, and Crawford Street United Methodist Church, 900 Crawford St. will kick off the season with their annual CSUMC Turkey Dinner and bake sale, which is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. The fundraiser, which is sponsored by the United Methodist Women, has been held for more than 100 years with the proceeds going towards missions.

Tickets for the dinner are $10 in advance only and include turkey, dressing, corn pudding, green beans, a slice of pie and tea. Take out orders will also be available.

This year, in addition to the dinner and bake sale, an arts and crafts boutique will also be offered, Robyn Lea, co-chairman of the arts and crafts boutique, said.

The idea of selling hand made craft items in conjunction with the dinner is not a new concept.

In years past, a bazaar was held in the rooms adjacent to the church’s Floral Hall at the same time the dinner was held and more recently a craft and white elephant sale was offered in the breezeway off of Wesley Hall.

However, this year’s arts and crafts boutique will be set up in the same room where the dinner will be served.

We are making it like a little store, and it will be housed under a 10 by 10 white tent in the corner of Wesley Hall, Lea said, adding she has had a lot of positive response to this new addition to the annual event.

“Church members have been real excited about this,” she said. “And I can’t wait to see what all they make.”

So far, Lea said she has received wooden cutting boards, hand crafted jewelry, artwork and plenty of handmade fall and Christmas decorations.

Linda Turner, who also serves as co-chairman, has made quilted table toppers, and Lea said her mother has made some cloth children’s books for the boutique.

Patrons interested in browsing the boutique or purchasing goodies from the bake sale do not have to have a ticket for the dinner, Lea said.

For more information or a ticket, call 601-636-5612.