Holiday shoppers looking for unique treasures and handmade items have many choices available to them thanks to numerous upcoming craft fairs and markets.
Nanaimo Harbour City Seniors host the Arty Crafty Bazaar on Nov. 17 at the Bowen Park Activity Centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The bazaar features knitted and crocheted items, paintings, pottery and more.
“We have been doing this for many years,” said Inge von Stackelberg, coordinator of the bazaar. “We have always donated all the profits to local charities.”
Past charities the seniors have supported include the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation and the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank.
The Randerson Ridge Elementary School Christmas Gift and Craft Fair is Nov. 18-19 at Dover Bay Secondary School.
It runs from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 18 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 19. Admission is $2 at the door and kids are free.
The event features more than 97 artisans.
“There will be a huge bake table, so there will be a whole bunch of homemade treats for sale,” said Debbie Loy, a parent advisory council member.
There will also be door prizes and a 50-50 raffle and barbecue concession.
On Nov. 19 from 2-4 p.m. there is a Christmas Bazaar and Tea at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, located at 4235 Departure Bay Rd.
The bazaar features homemade baked goods, crafts, preserves and jams for sale.
The tea is served until 3:30 p.m. and is $7 per person.
For more information please phone 250-758-2676.
The Kris Kringle Craft Market is Nov. 17-20 at the Beban Park Social Centre.
It features more than 150 artisans selling a variety of wares including jewelry, pottery, textile crafts, glassworks, paintings, artisan foods and more.
The craft market features daily entertainment including Kris Kringle and Karole Kringle, the Merry Minstrel, Travis the Cowboy, live music, jugglers and more. There are free horse-drawn carriage rides on Nov. 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Kris Kringle Craft Market is open Nov. 17 from noon to 9 p.m., Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $10 at the door, $8 for seniors and students and free for children 12 and under. A four-day pass is available for $15 and includes a Kringle bag, use of an express lane for re-entry and a gift certificate to Natural U Spa.
For more information, please go to www.kriskringle.ca.
The 15th annual German Christmas Market is Nov. 25-26. It runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 25 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 26 at the German Cultural Centre, located at 71 Caledonia Ave.
The market features glass Christmas ornaments, wooden toys, German baking and more.
For info please go to http://bit.ly/2fwLSfl.