Stratford Music and Art Sale returns March 28 to support Holy Trinity food banks

Local artists sell their wares to shoppers at the first St. James Music and Art Sale on March 1, 2025, in support of the St. James belltower restoration project.

Art, music and community support will come together once again later this month when Holy Trinity Anglican Church (formerly St. James Anglican Church) hosts the Stratford Music and Art Sale, a fundraiser in support of the church’s food-bank ministry.

The event will run Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the church’s upper and lower halls at the corner of Mornington and Hamilton streets. Formerly known as Music and Art at St. James, the event is now in its second year and has been renamed to reflect the recent amalgamation of three Anglican churches in Stratford – St. James, St. Paul’s and St. Stephen’s – under the Holy Trinity name.

Organizer Karin Mussen said the format remains much the same as last year, with about 23 or 24 artists showing and selling their work over two floors.

“They will be donating a minimum of 20 per cent of their day’s sales to the food bank,” Mussen said. “We’re not a business. We’re into fundraising, and it’s for the food bank.”

That support will benefit Holy Trinity’s two food-bank locations – the Tuesday-morning food bank at the former St. James site and the Friday-morning food bank at the former St. Paul’s Connection Centre site.

“This year we decided we would just solely do it on the food bank because the need is so high,” Mussen said. “It isn’t for the church. It’s for the community, and it’s for the Stratford community.”

In addition to proceeds donated by artists, visitors will be invited to make a freewill donation at the welcome table. Mussen said that combination helped make the event a success in its first year.

Last year, the fundraiser brought in more than $4,500 between the spring and fall sales for repairs to the church’s bell tower. This spring’s event will be the first focused entirely on helping the food bank.

While the show is centred on visual art, the music component remains a major part of the experience. This year’s lineup includes the Stratford District Secondary School jazz combo directed by Kelsey Regier, along with local musicians N.F. Young and Mike Ryan, and bell chimer Peter Ryde.

Mussen said the event is designed to be relaxed and welcoming, allowing people to browse, listen and speak directly with artists throughout the day.

“It’s open to anybody,” she said. “We’re trying to bring in the community. It isn’t just a church thing.”

Artists taking part are coming not only from Stratford, but from across the wider region, including Huron County and other nearby communities.

After a successful first year, Mussen said organizers are hopeful the Stratford Music and Art Sale will continue to grow as a twice-yearly community event.

Entry is by freewill donation. For more information, contact the church office at 519-271-3572 or office@stjamesstratford.ca.