Holiday market season is heating up in Hastings County and Madawaska Valley with the launch of new and longstanding market traditions.
In Bancroft, the inaugural Holiday and Christmas Market at the North Hastings Inspiration Place, the Art and Craft Guild’s annual Christmas show and sale at the Fish and Game Club are this weekend.
The independent spirit of local markets and makers includes the George Vanier Christmas Market in Combermere.
Dozens of vendors are scheduled to feature unique gifts, artwork, jewellery, fibre arts, seasonal décor, fresh baking, preserves, maple products, sustainable products, wellness offerings at the Holiday and Christmas Market at Inspiration Place.
It’s the first community event at the new space, soon to be home to the Bancroft Library.
Sarah Phoenix, Municipal Strategic Communications and Civic Engagement Specialist with the Town of Bancroft, says the event is about celebrating local talent, creativity and community.
“We have over 30 vendors coming. We have three authors and author groups coming,” said Phoenix.
The North Hastings Public Library will also celebrate their new space and host a book sale to support programming and materials.
“The North Hastings Public Library team will also be in their new space, liquidating and getting rid of some of the old collection so there’ll be DVDs and books,” explained Phoenix.
“We have multiple community organizations coming to raise funds, bring awareness, and sell some of their wares and we have representation from all seven neighboring townships.”
Phoenix said the market helps support connections within the local community and surrounding areas to organizations, independent makers, producers and small businesses.
“The goal is to encourage our community to come out and see our beautiful space to bring them into our downtown area. Shop local, stay local, increase awareness around those spaces, the resources, the new North Hastings Public Library, and getting it all set up. We’re also hoping that entrepreneurs and small businesses can make some money and lots of people can get some lovely ideas for the holiday season.”
The hope is to make it a semi-annual event.
“We’ll see how the turnout is.”
The event is taking place beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at Inspiration Place.
Local groups including Kids in Need are among the organizations hosting a booth at the market.
Kids in Need organizer and Treasurer Sherry Torrens told MyBancroftNow that it’s a good way for people in the community, to connect and for families to register for some of the available programs.
The volunteer-run organization works with families in the Bancroft area to help provide resources like coats, warm clothing and toys.
Torrens said the organization will have a booth at the market for families to connect and get registered so Kids in Need can order the snowsuits.
Torrens added that families are also welcome to contact them via email (bancroftkin@gmail.com) or via their facebook site.
This weekend the Bancroft Art and Guild is also hosting their annual Christmas show and sale at the Fish and Game Club and the Autumn Antlers event is being hosted by BBIA downtown.
“It’s great to activate our downtown core and bring more people into the town of Bancroft,” said Phoenix.
