The Woman’s Association of the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, (MSSA) will host its 61st annual Cottage Tour & Bazaar on Friday, July 18, 2025. The much-anticipated event will include tours of five representative cottages; a self-guided tour of historic buildings; the always-popular bazaar with fine art and jewelry, plus home décor, plants, clothing, and much more; The Butterfly Boutique (resale); box lunches from Emily Frith and Corner Market Catering; and the always popular Bake Sale. Parking is free.

The annual event is designed to share with the public the Assembly’s unique history and mission, to showcase its representative turn-of-the-century cottages and structures, and to highlight the Chautauqua Movement and the Assembly’s association with the Chautauqua Network. The cottages to be featured this year are: Chautauqua House, Robin’s Nest, At Long Last, By the Way, and Peace on Earth.

The Bazaar, open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., welcomes more than 40 selected local and regional artisans and at least 15 new vendors who will bring arts and crafts and splurge-worthy fine art and jewelry as well as paper, ceramics, clothes, plants, leather and more. The nearby Butterfly Boutique sale of donated items from members and friends is a bargain-lover’s dream in the Writers’ Grove located near the Woman’s Association Winfield House.

The Corner Market is back at the Cottage Tour. Box lunches ($26.31, including taxes and fees), available for pre-order only, will feature a grilled chicken breast over mediterranean orzo, creamy cucumber salad and a chess tart that can be enjoyed in one of the Assembly’s green spaces. Attendees may also dine in and enjoy the buffet and salad bar ($20) or a la carte burgers and hot dogs. Dining Hall hours on tour day are 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Guests will also enjoy the annual bake sale where the Assembly’s best cooks bring their sweet and savory specialties, and the Snack Shop will be open for popcorn, chilled candy bars, bottled water and souvenir T-shirts.

Attendees should plan a stop at cottage #9A, Little Lexington, the new location of The Gallery (take the first circular driveway as you enter the front gate), a mainstay of the Assembly history and a must-stop shopping destination during any visit. In addition to art and gifts, the Gallery is one of a select few to carry award-winning McCarty’s Pottery. Created by Assembly members, the late Lee and Pup McCarty, Mississippi-based McCarty’s has earned international recognition and is now owned by a new generation of Assembly members, Jamie and Stephen Smith.

New this year: Voices of the Assembly! This video, which will run in the Chapel continuously throughout the event, features interviews with members from previous generations who share stories about the Assembly’s history and evolution. It’s a moving tribute and a must-see.

Schedule of events

• Bazaar: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Butterfly Boutique and bake sale: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• McCarty’s at Cottage 9A: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Cottage tours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Prepaid Box lunch pickup 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Harton Dining Hall: Corner Market Catering Buffet available 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Tickets ($26.31 including processing fee) and box lunches ($26.31 including processing fee) can be ordered here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-i6wA4kcFtRPFrcyxUndnZxAiw4Jk_fjSurE66Y2S-uBQIg/viewform; and paid via GooglePay, Cashapp, or credit card.

Organized in 1887, the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly (MSSA) Woman’s Association has played a vital role in the development of the Assembly by providing hospitality, funds and meeting space for all aspects of the summer program. The Association’s cottage, “Winfield,” is the center for many activities during the Season, from Sunday School to parents’ meetings, workshops, children’s story hours, and card parties. It also houses the Assembly library and is staffed by a resident hostess/librarian. The MSSA Culinary Guild, a program of the Woman’s Association, celebrates and supports the local South Cumberland food and farming community and the production and enjoyment of great food. Members maintain the Assembly’s Humphreys-Martin Family Herb Garden and enjoy coming together for food, beverages, and fun several times during the program season. Woman’s Association Motto: “Each for the other, all for Monteagle.”