The Woman’s Association of the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly (MSSA) will host its 62nd Annual Cottage Tour & Bazaar on Friday, July 17. The highly popular event will include tours of five historic cottages; the always-tempting bazaar with booths featuring curated artisans of jewelry, home décor, fine art, clothing, plants and more; Butterfly Boutique (resale); bake sale; and lunch options. Go to <https://monteaglesundayschoolassembly.org/programs-events/> to register.

The annual event showcases the Assembly’s unique history and mission, spotlights representative turn-of-the-century cottages, and educates the public about the Chautauqua Movement and the Assembly’s association with the Chautauqua Network. The cottages to be featured this year are: Fleurs de Lis, Amen, Restover, Linger Longer and Cumberland.

Old favorites and several new vendors will bring local arts and crafts and splurge-worthy fine art and jewelry as well as paper, ceramics, art, clothes, plants, leather and more plus specially selected local and regional artisans. The nearby Butterfly Boutique is a bargain-lover’s dream, featuring donated items from members and is in the Writers’ Grove located near the Woman’s Association Winfield House.

Box lunches must be reserved and paid for in advance on the MSSA website. Box lunches include chicken salad on a croissant, kale salad, fruit cup, a lemon bar and cost $20. They can be enjoyed in one of the Assembly’s green spaces. Cottage tour attendees may also choose to dine at Harton Dining Hall. The buffet lunch includes chicken tetrazzini, seasonal vegetable, tomato pie, salad bar and a selection of desserts and costs $20. Check, Venmo, PayPal and Cash accepted. Please note that credit cards are not accepted. Deep-dish tomato pies from Whiskey Business Catering will be available for purchase for $25.

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

Be sure to stop by cottage #9A, Little Lexington, a mainstay of the Assembly history and a must-stop shopping destination. In addition to art and gifts, The Gallery is one of a select few to carry award-winning McCarty’s Pottery. Gallery owner Melissa Webb invites cottage tour attendees to stop by, shop, and pick up a raffle ticket for a specially selected 21” x 21” McCarty’s free form candle plate. It retails for $1,625, and tickets are $10 each or 5 for $40.

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 Pottery at The Gallery (#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: Lunch Buffet available 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Prices for Cottage Tour & Bazaar:

Advanced Purchase Ticket: $25

Day of Entrance Ticket: $30

Prepaid Box Lunches: $20

Free Parking

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.