Christmas craft fairs start this weekend in Victoria
Who doesn’t like finding that perfect, homemade gift for family, friends of yourself? November marks the beginning of the Christmas craft fair season, with the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays playing out at more than a dozen events debuting this weekend, at various venues in Victoria and southern Vancouver Island.
• One of the first out of the gate is the Strawberry Vale Craft Fair, which is always held on the first Saturday and Sunday of November.
“We have the benefit of being the earliest to open,” said Larry Freeman, organizer of the show, which celebrates its 34th year. “That way people get the best selection from vendors.”
The fair boasts 30 vendors, with a core number that come back every year.
Freeman says the low turnover of vendors — there is a waiting list — means that people can typically find favourite items year after year.
The fair sees more than 1,000 customers looking for items made by local artisans. Newcomers include Island Jerky, novels and kaleidoscope prints by Alisa Gamblin and Uncouth Chocolate.
The fair runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Strawberry Vale Community Club, 11 High St. For more information, go to Facebook.
• The Creative Craft Fairs marks its 41st year with 125 exhibitors offering a variety of crafts, fine art, photography, clothing, glass art and exotic imports.
“The secret to our success is offering shoppers unique products every year,” said Deanna Walters, producer of Creative Craft Fairs, which runs Nov. 9 to 11 at Pearkes Recreation Centre.
It attracts up to 8,000 visitors -— many of them regulars -— who seek traditional gifts for loved ones.
Walters says that foodstuffs have become very popular as well lately, with vendors offering curry, humus, vinegar, truffles, fudge and — new this year — maple syrup.
The fair runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11 at Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd. For more information, go to creativecaraftfairs.com.
• Veronica von Conruhds has taken her memories as a little girl growing up in Germany to create the Kris Kringle Craft Market in Nanaimo, which runs Nov. 15 to 18 at Beban Park in Nanaimo.
“The fair is in honour of my parents, who inspired me to recreate a traditional German Christmas market with old-world charm,” said von Conruhds, who has produced the seasonal event for 25 years.
She said that the fair is not just a business.
“I want it to be a place to come away with happy memories — memories full of awe and imagination.”
The fair boasts more than 150 artisans with booths set up in a park that attracts between 10,000 and 12,000 guests every year.
There will horse-drawn carriage rides and 15 entertainers over four days with acts and performances to delight and captivate the crowd.
“No two days are alike,” von Conruhds said.
The fair runs noon to 9 p.m. Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 17 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18 at Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Rd., Nanaimo. For more information, go to kriskringle.ca.
For a complete list of fairs, see the Events listings on page C11.