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Looking for one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts? These local craft fairs offer up handmade jewellery, candles, culinary treats + more
Featuring more than 300 exhibitors from across Canada, the Circle Craft Christmas Market is consistently recognized as one of Vancouver’s best craft fairs. Come prepared to mark a name or two off your list as you browse through handcrafted goods for the kitchen (think gourmet, espresso-infused chocolates and savoury shortbreads), closet (one-of-a-kind clothing, jewellery, and accessories for the whole brood), and home (we’re talking everything from beeswax candles to reclaimed wood toys).
Be sure to check out the Budding Artists exhibit, which will spotlight emerging makers and their innovative works, as well as the Family Craft Zone, where your little ones can make their own masterpieces to take home.
Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver Admission is $14 for adults and $12 for seniors and students, free for children 12 years and under
Kicking off a string of seasonal craft shows at Mount Pleasant’s Heritage Hall is the inaugural Love It. Craft It. Fair—a celebration of Blushface Paper Goods’ fifth birthday and the launch of jewellery line Oh So Josephine—that will join more than 25 local artisans under one roof. Expect hand-knit accessories by Make More Happy, charming watercolour works from Art Rose Prints, and beaded jewellery by Sage & Soul, plus sweet treats from Gluttony Desserts, Half Baked Cookie Company, and more.
All proceeds from the event will go toward local child advocacy centre Sophie’s Place and the first 15 shoppers will receive a free swag bag filled with goodies from each vendor.
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, Vancouver Admission is $3, free for children 12 years and under
Take a trip out of the city and discover more than 100 vendors at Refresh Market, one of B.C.’s largest indie marketplaces. Now in its eighth year, the event features a variety of handmade, vintage, and curated wares by makers from across the province like Lone Goat Soap Co., The Nine O’Clock Gun, Heavy Meadow, and Fox + Rebel. The market’s 22,000-square-feet space also means plenty of room for local food, live music, and other surprises.
If you can make it out of bed, hit Refresh early—the first 50 people through the door will receive a free swag bag.
West Coast Railway Heritage Park, 39645 Government Road, Squamish Admission is $3 at the door
A slightly closer commute from Vancouver is the Bloom Holiday Market—the winter edition of Fort Langley’s popular craft fair that will showcase one-of-a-kind gifts from 28 local artisans. From adorable, hand-sewn headbands by Queen Bee to offbeat ceramics by sculptor Elaine Brewer-White, a large number of the event’s goods are designed and made in Langley, making the hunt for truly unique gifts a snap.
Fort Langley Community Hall, 9167 Glover Road, Langley Admission is $2 at the door
Modeled after the bustling street markets that take Europe by storm during the holidays, the Vancouver Christmas Market returns for its sixth year at Queen Elizabeth Plaza with more than 50 vendors offering up a variety of Euro-inspired and locally made crafts. New to this year’s event are Provence en Couleur Home Décor, makers of home items like olive wood kitchenware and Marseille soap from the south of France, and Ideal Handcrafted Jewelry, which will have a range of crystal-fused accessories on hand from Spain.
Returning favourites like Art of Soap, Winterbourne Alpaca, and Käthe Wohlfahrt—the market’s largest vendor and a must-visit for unique, handcrafted ornaments—will round out the seasonal shopping spree.
Queen Elizabeth Plaza, 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver Admission prices vary, available online and at the door; free for children six years and under
Like its world-famous namesake, Portobollo West has quickly become known for its selection of unique, hard-to-find goods in the city and, with over 90 local artisans, its lively holiday edition is no different. Expect men’s and women’s fashion, jewellery, home accessories, gourmet treats, and more from talented makers like Little Citizens, Fancypop, Trudy Ann’s Chai, and G&T Design, plus live music, giveaways, and a number of food trucks serving up delicious snacks.
Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver Admission is $2 at the door, free for children 12 years and under
With over 250 up-and-coming designers, a beer garden, plus a decidedly urban feel, Make It! is definitely not your grandmother’s craft fair. The four-day event features an eclectic range of handcrafted goods, including home decor, art, and apparel, from homegrown “makies” like Broken Fog, Market Canvas, Puglie Pug, and Sugar Blossom. Once you’ve found the perfect gift, you can have it prepped for the tree at the fair’s gift wrap station, where all proceeds will go toward the Union Gospel Mission and the Hastings Community Centre Youth Group.
Need more time to browse? Don’t fret—admission is good for the whole weekend so there’s plenty of time to shop for every name on your list.
PNE Forum, 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver Admission is $7 online and at the door, free for children 12 years and under
Organized by Canadian art and music collective, Western Front, TOQUE is one part fundraiser, one part exquisitely curated craft fair. Shoppers can support the group’s year-round creative programs while perusing food and wares from some of the city’s best makers, including Coral + Cloud, Woodlot, East Van Jam, and Scout & Catalogue. Also available for purchase will be a limited edition tea towel specially designed for the event by Toronto-based artist Walter Scott—a great gift for the creatively inclined or a cool statement piece for your own kitchen.
Luxe Hall at Western Front, 303 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver Admission is by donation
Find everything you need for the holidays and then some at the eighth-annual Deck the Hall Craft Fair, where 50 local artisans—including Bent Leather Customs, City Creations, and The Other Eden—will showcase a range of pottery, body care, woodworks, upcycled items, and more. Shopping for a hostess gift or unique stocking stuffers? A selection of locally made edibles like preserves, gourmet sauces, and teas will offer ample options.
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, Vancouver Admission is $2 at the door, free for children 16 years and under
The newest addition to Vancouver’s holiday calendar, Vancouver Winter Wonderland debuts this December at the PNE Forum where over 100 local vendors and a variety of festive features will converge for 10 jam-packed days of entertainment. Shop a range of beauty, home, and fashion products, and tap into your creative side at the arts and crafts station where all handmade decorations will adorn the event’s Grand Christmas Tree.
A number of food trucks will also be onsite, plus a walk-in snow globe (complete with falling snow), kid-friendly polar bear slide, and, of course, St. Nick himself.
PNE Forum, 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver Admission is $5 online and at the door
Vancouver’s biggest indie-craft fair makes the switch to the historic Shipyards Plaza for its 18th annual Holiday Edition, where more than 80 designers will be on deck with an assortment of apothecary, paper goods, edibles, and more. If you’re feeling inspired, step into one of two complimentary DIY workshops and try your hand at a sewing or letterpress project. You can also make your own mini piñata to take home, by donation.
As an extra incentive to get your holiday shopping done, the first 50 paid attendees through the door will receive a free limited edition tote bag loaded with goodies from a number of vendors.
The Pipe Shop Building, 115 Victoria Way, North Vancouver Admission is $3 in advance online or $5 at the door, free for children 12 years and under
If your summer days were spent strolling through the stands at the Vancouver Farmers Market, you won’t want to miss the event’s festive holiday iteration. Expect handmade jewellery, one-off art, and locally crafted foods galore from more than 60 vendors, including 1UP Caramels, The Magpie’s Nest, Ratatouille Designs, and Marie’s Guilt Free Baking. The event will also feature the Vancouver Farmers Market’s first-ever Gingerbread House Competition, where you can view and vote for your favourite homemade creations.
Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver Admission is $3 at the door, free for children 12 years and under
