The Etsy Holiday Market will showcase local craftspeople, artists and vintage collectors this Saturday from 10:00am-4:00pm in the Atlantic Place Food Court. The Market is family friendly, admission is free, and there will be a door prize of goodies donated by local vendors up for grabs.

The Etsy Holiday Market is being organized by the team behind the local Etsy: Made in Canada Market. The Made in Canada Market gives artists, craftspeople, and vintage vendors who sell their wares online through Etsy’s website an opportunity to display their goods in person and meet customers face-to-face. After three successful years of the Made in Canada Market, the team has decided to host a second, holiday-themed market this year.

“We have a lot of vendors who are offering ornaments and holiday décor, and then there are also vendors who are offering gift ideas like jewellery, bath bombs, and greeting cards for the holidays and other occasions,” explained Meghan Fahey, an organizer of the event and the creator of Driven to Ink, an Etsy shop that specializes in stationary and greeting cards.

The Etsy Holiday Market will highlight 40 vendors selling everything from funky pet accessories to hand-carved wooden baby toys. Fahey is excited that a number of artisans from the Quidi Vidi Plantation will have tables at the market, including Clare Fowler of Clare Dawn Couture, a designer who works with traditional textiles like wool and seal fur.

“We have 38 vendors who sell items they crafted or designed themselves and then we also have two vendors who are selling vintage treasures,” Fahey said.

Like the Etsy: Made in Canada Markets, this event will give people a chance to meet local artists and chat with them about their work. It’s also a great way to learn more about the wide variety of products that are being made right here in St. John’s.

“Shopping with us is shopping one hundred percent local. All the items are made by small local businesses who don’t necessarily have a shop of their own. The majority are home-based businesses who are doing this as a side hustle or they’re stay at home moms who dedicate their time to it,” Fahey said.

The market is an excellent opportunity to get a head start on holiday shopping while supporting local artists and craftspeople. There will be so many unique, lovingly crafted items for sale that you may be able to wrap up your holiday shopping early and skip the mall entirely this year.