Published December 11th, 2019
Holidays arrive at the Hacienda de las Flores
By Vera Kochan
Moraga Garden Club's Hacienda garden Photo Vera Kochan
The Lamorinda area has many talented artisans, and 43 of them had their crafts for sale during the fourth annual Hacienda Holiday Fair Dec 6-8.

Co-chairs of the event, Jackie Smith and Hollie Lucas-Alcalay, brought the idea to the Hacienda after several years of running it in Smith's Orinda home where the sales force of 17 vendors was considered large.

Lucas-Alcalay sells culinary herbs, herb infused olive oils and bath products under her Hollie's Homegrown label. Smith sells jewelry under the Beadsmith label. Other vendors offered jams, candy, knit ware, soaps, and holiday themed gifts, just to name a few.

"Our top five sellers are from Moraga, and we have a few from San Francisco," Lucas-Alcalay said. "At least 78% of our vendors are from Lamorinda. They are selected based on handmade and sustainability factors."

Volunteers helped to keep things running smoothly, and the Department of Parks and Recreation was the current sponsor benefiting from the event; all raffle ticket proceeds and table rental fees went into the Parks and Rec coffers.

No holiday fair can be complete without a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. This year's labor of love was done by some members of the disbanded Moraga Women's Society: Nancy Comprelli, Roberta Klaproth, Colleen Lund and Susan Sperry.

In a section along the back fence of the Hacienda near the Casita, the Moraga Garden Club continues to maintain a corner of the world with an artful array of trees and plants that have turned gold and orange with the season.
Photo Vera Kochan

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