Sudley Church’s 92nd Turkey-Oyster Dinner and Bazaar on Oct. 23

Sudley United Methodist Church will hold its 92nd Annual Turkey-Oyster Dinner and Bazaar on Friday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

According to Nancy Harrover, president of the church’s United Methodist Women (UMW) and dinner co-chairs Terry Abate and Karen Milihram, the tradition started in 1923 with 15 gallons of oysters, fried or stewed. Today, the cooks prepare 40 gallons of oysters, 32 large turkeys and 18 turkey breasts; sides include mashed potatoes, dressing, greenbeans, Waldorf salad and more.  Over the past five years, 1,100 to 1,200 in-house and carryout meals were served.

The bazaar includes a country store with homemade baked and canned foods, Christmas decorations and handmade wood and sewn crafts. The silent auction features an antique lamp and a handmade quilt. The queen-sized quilt, donated by member Pat Gatewood who has done that for five years, will be auctioned off via sealed envelopes opened at the end of the day.

To accommodate the diners and bazaar attendees, thirty to fifty people work each of four shifts. Said Harrover, “I want to credit Terry and Karen for putting this together. We’re very thankful for their help and for those from the community who show up to help even if they’re not members. The same amount of work needs to be done every year because we never know how many people are going to come.”

The annual event is the church’s major fundraiser. Harrover said UMW splits the proceeds with the church; its half goes into the UMW’s missions budget for such programs as disaster kits for local and foreign victims, sending to camp children of incarcerated women, scholarships for children whose families can’t afford to send them on mission trips and United Methodist Family Services.

The dinner is $18 for adults, $5 for children (3 to 11). Law enforcement officers, fire, rescue and military personnel and national park rangers are invited as guests.

Sudley United Methodist Church is located at 5308 Sudley Rd. in Manassas. Visit sudley-methodist.org or call 703-754-4380 for more information.