Online Christmas shopping isn’t nearly as much fun as browsing independent vendor stands––and enjoying the warmly festive vibe––at a well-curated local holiday market. And they’re always a great way to find brilliantly original pressies for absolutely everyone on your gift list.

 

Researching our Vancouver Christmas Guide website this year––we’re now in our eighth season––we discovered that Metro Vancouver is crammed like a bulging Yuletide stocking with a massive array of enticing festive fairs and markets.

 

Some are large and well known. Others are much smaller but just as rewarding. The trick is to know when and where they are, and to plan your shopping excursions accordingly. Luckily, we’ve made it easier for you with a handy round-up of some of our 2024 favourites.Check out our Events page for additional markets as well as late-breaking happenings––and keep an eye on this story, which we will update as more markets connect with us and announce their details for this year.

 

The Famous Ones

 

The wildly popular Vancouver Christmas Market at downtown’s Jack Poole Plaza isn't just about shopping. Running from November 13 to December 24, this twinkling annual attraction includes a carousel, selfie-ready illuminations and lots of tasty food stands. But we particularly love exploring the dozens of little wooden vendor huts––especially if we can find some traditional German Christmas ornaments.

 

Speaking of European-style holiday markets, North Vancouver is getting its own version this year. The admission-free Shipyards Christmas Market is just a few steps from Lonsdale Quay SeaBus terminal and it promises more than 75 vendor huts, live entertainment,  tasty cuisine and plenty of mulled wine!

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Also save plenty of perusing time for the gigantic, five-day Circle Craft Holiday Market at downtown's Convention Centre West, where more than 300 artisan vendors await. The much-loved Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair is also back for 2024, and they're celebrating their 40th anniversary on November 23 with a bumper array of more than 140 vendors. And don't miss the return of Yaletown’s Portobello West Holiday Market. It’s on November 30 and December 1 this year, and you can expect a cleverly-curated array of dozens of regional artisans––with everything from jewellery to skincare to gourmet treats on the tables.

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Local Artisans

 

Metro Vancouverites are a highly crafty bunch, with countless artisan markets staged around the city throughout the year. But the holidays sees the highest concentration of market happenings––and they’re typically jam-packed  with a great array of unique pressie possibilities (jam included).

 

Consider the 116-vendor Albion Holiday Craft Fair in Maple Ridge or the Cloverdale Christmas Craft Fair, which has expanded to two Saturdays this year––with more than 100 different vendors on each day. And we can't wait for the 2024 edition of the New Westminster Holiday Farmers Market, which always has a great festive vibe and lots of cool artisan stands to peruse. The family-friendly festive atmosphere is also a major attraction at the Maple Ridge Christmas Craft Fair, a great option that also includes a free holiday stage show!

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And we certainly won't be missing this year's edition of the First Pick Handmade Holiday Pop Up Market at Heritage Hall on Main Street in Vancouver, complete with its super-cool array of design-forward items created by local and across-Canada artisans. The previous week, the same venue also hosts First Pick's sister event, Good Stuff Market, where smaller gifts and goodies priced at $50 or less is the focus.

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Hidden Gems

 

As ever, there are some intriguing under-the-radar events this year that are well-worth searching out For unique handmade creations, check out the delightfully old-school Marpole Christmas Fair, a fundraiser for the area's Historical Society and a reminder of how yesteryear community festive fairs and events used to feel (homemade baking included). And if you want to avoid the crowds at some of the area's holiday events, consider South Vancouver’s charming Tugboat Landing Artisan Market on November 30 and December 1.

 

We’ll also be hopping on the SeaBus to the annual Polygon Gallery Holiday Market, complete with its scintillating  array of art and artisan gift ideas. We're also planning to hit the SkyTrain to Port Coquitlam, where the PoMo Arts Centre is hosting its lovely Blackberry Winter Market. Creative gifts are also on the roster at the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery, where their cool That's a Wrap exhibition showcases crafts, fine arts and one-of-a-kind present ideas from more than 50 local creatives.

 

And if you fancy enjoying a glass of great wine, shopping some cool artisan vendors and then singing your fave karaoke holiday songs, make sure you hit the Christmas Festivus Market at Richmond's LuLu Island Winery. It's the perfect place to toast the 2024 Yuletide season!

 

For more information on the festive events, shows and attractions in the city and beyond, visit the Vancouver Christmas Guide. Written by Lonely Planet travel writer John Lee, it’s the best online guide to the area’s 2024 holiday happenings. The site was co-created with Christmas Cat Max, who pens its gift reviews and often appears on its @VancouverChristmasGuide Instagram feed.

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