HANSVILLE — Walking into the Greater Hansville Community Center Saturday morning, visitors were bombarded by red, green and chocolate, embodying the fact that the holidays are upon the North End once again.

For those realizing there are now only 41 shopping days left before Christmas, various bazaars and holiday fairs have sprung up in the area. The Hansville Arts and Crafts Guild held its 18th Annual Hansville Holiday Bazaar last weekend, ushering in the season for many.

The Friday and Saturday event brought in all handmade, original gift ideas from vendors who converged on the community center, offering advice and special stocking stuffers.

“Even with the stormy weather, we had a lot of support which was fabulous,” said event chairwoman Gale Johnson. “The Holiday Cafe has gone over very well. This whole fair has been wonderful.”

La La Land Chocolates’ Holiday Cafe offered visitors a place to refuel and rest during their shopping exertions. The chocolate fountains helped lure in hungry bazaar goers.

“I’m glad we had the cafe,” said guild president Sandra Wright. “People had a place to sit down and relax during the bazaar. I think a lot of people stayed longer because they had a place to rest.”

The bazaar has descended on Hansville every Veteran’s Day weekend since 1988, Johnson said, and both locals and visitors have come to expect it as a part of the holiday events in the North End.

“There is a lot of foot traffic,” said vendor Marcy Collins, who was using her skills as a charcoal artist to draw anyone interested in a portrait. “For such a small fair, there are a lot of people walking through here, which is excellent. We’re having a really great time.”

The festival attracted about 300 to 350 people, Wright said. Organizers don’t keep an exact tally of how many people attend, but she said that’s a typical count for the event.

“Oh yeah, I’m getting a lot of good ideas,” said Everett resident Jeri Motson. “I’ve found only one thing so far, for my sister-in-law, but this fair is inspiring.”

Hansville resident Paula Hettler said she attends every year with her friends to find gifts and things for herself.

“I’ve purchased some honey, and these handmade gift cards,” she said. She held up some colorful cards that allow the person receiving the card to remove the greeting, insert a new one and send it to someone else. “I’ve never seen these before. What a neat idea.”

Wright said the guild attempts to cycle through new vendors every year, trying out different wares to see what the public really responds to. Many vendors, however, have been with the bazaar from the beginning.

“I’ve been out here quite a few years,” said vendor Ruth Greg. “I really enjoy it every year, it seems like the beginning of the holiday season to me.”