A sure sign of the holidays is on the horizon, the annual Circle Craft Holiday Market, Western Canada’s largest craft sale, returns November 11-16 at Vancouver Convention Centre.
More than 300 Canadian artisans, makers and designers will set up shop for a Market expanded from five to six full days of shopping. Circle Craft offers shoppers a one-of-a-kind chance to support home-grown small businesses, make sustainable choices and, in these time of tariffs and economic unknowns, keep their money here at home.
Since 1974, Circle Craft Holiday Market has welcomed vendors ranging from emerging artists to heritage family businesses, Dragon’s Den alumni, and even works featured in the Canadian Museum of Civilization. This year, Vancouver’s beloved handmade market spotlights a slew of products that speak to Canadians’ newfound pride: O’Kanata Soap formulated with Indigenous-made Wabanaki maple syrup (RavenSong); wooden ornaments honouring Canada’s provinces and territories (Woods(wo)man Woodworking); stickers, pins, and patches tributing Canadian cities (Ashleigh Green Studios); hats and hoodies with hand-painted West Coast vistas (the.art.shed Clothing); children’s books on Canadian mythology (A Moose in a Maple Tree); and seasonings made with foraged spruce tips and nootka rose petals (Forest for Dinner).
Up and down the aisles shoppers find vendors have made big changes in their works: opting for homegrown (or European) materials, designing new Canadian-forward product lines, and feeling the love from local audiences more than ever.
“Like most Canadians, Wanderlust took the ‘Elbows Up’ approach to our business plan by not letting one man dictate our future,” says Trevor Cobb, Circle Craft exhibitor and creator of push pin travel maps at Wanderlust Creatures. In the spring, Wanderlust cut out its American cork supplier and began taking steps to expand into the European market. “The fact that our government has been focusing on building trade relationships in Europe has been helping us quite a bit.”
Cobb says that with shoppers seeking local goods, sales are up from previous years, and other Circle Craft vendors from across the country agree.
“We have spent many years battling to get our products on Canadian stores shelves and it has not been easy!” says Coquitlam’s Paula Beale of smoked foods business FUME-eh Gourmet. “Logistically getting our products across this great land was expensive and difficult, and stores didn’t want to take a chance on a little BC smoked olive company.”
But this past year, everything changed: “The last seven months have made all small Canadian businesses rethink and pivot in one way or another and we, as Canadians, have stepped up and want to support our fellow artisans, producers, growers and makers of all things,” adds Beale. “This movement has opened doors for us small businesses, and more stores and avenues have opened up as a result. We are proud to be Canadian and finally everyone wants to show it!”
Other artisans, too, have seen their luck improve: This year, glass maker Maria Struk (Maria Ida Designs) was featured in a new Etsy commercial. And at the 2024 Circle Craft show, ??Mary Helen McCormick (Maryhelen Story Bags) was approached by buyers for the Butchart Gardens “Seeds and Gifts Shop” to be included in the “Made in BC” gallery show. Now her “wearable art” bags are a Canadian treasure.
For the 51st year, Circle Craft Holiday Market transforms the Vancouver Convention Centre into a festive hub of creativity, craftsmanship and Canadian innovation. Market-goers can take a stand against throwaway fashions, trade barriers, and online shopping by going off-line to sample and feel actual products, meet face to face with artisans and creators to hear what goes into their works, and ultimately walk away happily carrying their fine finds knowing each purchase supports fellow Canadians.
This year’s market features artisan demos, live entertainment, food and drink options and Creative Craft Kids’ Corner sponsored by Staples Canada, where children can colour, create, and write letters to Santa in their very own crafting area. Seniors 65+ get 50% off tickets all day Wednesday, November 12.
For the full vendor list, Market hours, and tickets starting at $8.00 visit circlecraft.com
Don’t forget to pick up a free re-admission pass onsite to be able to make return visits all week.