Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association’s Biery House Holiday Shoppe is returning for its second year. The public is invited to come to this gracious 1800s farmhouse and its outbuildings, decorated with the trappings of the Victorian era, and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts that have been handmade by local crafters and artisans.

Many changes have been made since last year, and this year promises to be even better than last.

“It’s like last year — on steroids,” said Betsy Hillenbrand, president of HCPA.

Perhaps the largest change was inviting Mrs. Nothstein’s Helping Hands to co-host the event, bringing the group’s homemade food to the forefront of the event. Mrs. Nothstein’s Helping Hands is a charity started in memory of Debbie Nothstein. After her sudden death, her family wanted to carry on her legacy of helping others.

Husband Bill Nothstein and volunteers from both the family and HCPA have been busy cooking for the event. This week, Bill Nothstein and his sisters made 120 quarts of chicken potpie with homemade noodles. Thirty volunteers came to help make 400 dozen pierogies. In addition, 400 pounds of potato and bread filling, halupkies and chicken corn and beef vegetable soups were made. An upcoming menu will include apple dumplings and halushki.

The Nothsteins have been cooking for the community for so long their food has become iconic. Some people wait all year with bated breath just for the filling.

Because the Biery House has no space appropriate for serving food, it will be available on a takeout basis only. Some, like the filling and pierogies, are frozen, while much will be sold fresh. The food will be located in its own room in the mule barn.

Also new this year, the restored carriage being used for photo ops is now located in its own room in the mule barn as well. The walls of the room have been painted to make it look as if the carriage is descending a snowy track, and now you can have fun with the top hats and capes and other apparel on loan from the HCPA collection to add a bit of magic to your complimentary holiday photos. Family groups and pets are welcome.

The third room in the barn is dedicated to the outdoor decorations.

Of the 50 vendors offering their wares this year, about a third are new, and the goods have been rearranged. The ornaments from the summer kitchen are now on the first floor of the house, and the jewelry is upstairs. The summer kitchen is offering only goods that are kitchen related, including a new wooden cutting board vendor, jellies and jams, potholders and the like.

New in the house are Bully Soaps, an animal rescue-related crafter, and Isaava, an organization that deals with goods made by people who have autism.

The holiday shop is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 8. Although organizers have eliminated Friday hours, the shop will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Black Friday, Nov. 29. Santa visits for photo opportunities noon-2 p.m. each day the shop is open.

The Biery House is located at 8 Race St. in Catasauqua. Shoppers must enter the parking lot behind the property via Union Street. There is no access from Race Street. From Race Street turn onto Front Street, and take the first left onto Union Street. For GPS directions, enter 5 W. Union St.