When it comes to the holiday season, there are people who have their Christmas shopping done early, and then there are those who leave it to the last minute and have to run all over town on the days leading up to Christmas. This resource will help you get some of that shopping out of the way nice and early, and will also help you shop local.
If you are visiting Northeastern Ontario during any of these dates, we highly recommend that you stop into one of these markets, because we promise that you will find a unique and special gift that highlights the North.
Over 80 handmade vendors are participating in this years Makers North Handmade Holiday Market, Northern Ontario’s leading holiday market. The hosts of this event is the Makers North Collective, who are all about promoting locally made products, from clothing, art, pottery, and jewellery to beauty products, and much more. Admission is $3 for one day or $5 for both days; bring a non-perishable food item for a chance to win the “Handmade Haul” prize.
The second annual “Handmade Holiday POP-UP” will feature another “Epic Handmade Haul Prize” that you can enter by bringing in a non-perishable food item. Twenty handmade vendors will be on site, and lots of family fun will be had. This beautiful location at Laurentian is bright and welcoming, so it’ll make an awesome venue for this event. Entrance is also free for this Holiday Market, so bring your friends and family and come get into the holiday spirit!
Local vendors and entrepreneurs have put in lots of hard work to move the very popular Sudbury farmers’ market inside in order to meet the demand for locally sourced products in the city. The indoor farmers’ market runs every Saturday until the end of December, when they will evaluate how well the experiment performed. The indoor space can hold up to 40 vendors and includes meat producers, vegetables, health products, and many other handmade goods.
The 3rd Annual R. Ross Beattie Christmas Craft & Vendor Show is a great opportunity to find unique gifts for people in your life. With over 30 vendors and creators participating in this year’s show, there will be a wide range of products available. Admission is $2, which includes a ballot for multiple door prizes. Proceeds from the show also support the Grade 8 trip and the school’s athletic program.
North Bay’s Winter Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday inside the North Bay Mall, featuring seasonal vendors providing locally grown food, art, baked goods, and showcasing other unique creators and entrepreneurs. This market does a great job of increasing the access locals have to fresh produce and locally sourced products, which is perfect for when you are getting ready for the holiday season.
This is North Bays first annual Downtown Makers Market and we could not be more excited. Come out to check out local handmade products and hopefully pick up some great gifts for the people in your life.
The Island Jar is a trendy little food market and cafe in the heart of downtown Little Current on Manitoulin Island and on Thursday, November 22, they are hosting a Holiday Artisan Market that will be highlighting local entrepreneurs and makers. Free “Swag Bags” will be given to the first 15 people at the market, and each purchase made will enter you into a draw for a gift basket full of locally sourced products. With over 20 vendors setting up shop, there is sure to be something for everyone on your shopping list.
We appreciate everyone who has made an effort to help organize and make these fantastic markets happen in our region. It is definitely worth making a stop a stop to check out one of the markets mentioned above to help you with your Christmas shopping, and more importantly, to support local businesses.
