Cranbrook's largest-ever Winter Market will open soon, supporting local businesses, farmers and non-profits during the festive season of giving.
The market runs Nov. 30 from 12 to 6 p.m. and Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Western Financial Place.
150 local vendors will be selling hand-made and home-grown products, making it the largest installment of the Winter Market to-date. Shoppers can expect to find woodworking, pottery, jewellery, candles, Christmas decorations, leatherwork and Indigenous beadwork, and collect their goods with the market's free tote bags.
Among the food producers taking part this year, are Kootenay Natural Meats with an assortment of locally-raised ethical meat, Niwas Rustic Bread with fresh-baked sour dough and croissants, and Meteor Mushrooms with mushroom elixirs and teas.
Sonntag Tree Farm will be selling fresh Christmas trees.
Black Star Studios will host an ornament-making workshop for children and it will demo clay-making and art painting kits.
Market manager Jessica Kazemi said winter markets are just as important for local food producers as the regular markets held during peak growing season.
"It's the last opportunity for them to sell of their crops. It carries them through the winter until next year and helps them prep for their 2025 season by purchasing seeds and any of the supplies they need over the winter," she said.
There will be a handful of community groups fundraising for various causes.
Cranbrook Foodbank Society will be collecting gift cards and donations of non-perishables, canned and packaged goods, toilet paper and personal hygiene items.
The Kin Club of Cranbrook will be Santa's helper at the market, supplying shoppers with costumes if they want to 'elf it up' for their Christmas picture with Saint Nick. The Club is fundraising for upgrades to Kinsman splash park.
Interact Club of Cranbrook and Young Life Cranbrook will be running gift wrapping stations to help raise funds to send children and youth to summer camp.
Additionally, there will be opportunities to donate to Meant 2B Loved Pet Rescue, Healthy Kimberley Food Recovery Depot and Cranbrook Food Recovery.
Western Financial Place is accessible for wheelchairs and walkers. An elevator located in the lobby will take shoppers down to the rink surface.
The Winter Market will be followed by a Last-Minute Market on Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Ktunaxa Gym at 220 Cranbrook St. North. This is a much smaller pop-up market that will give shoppers one final opportunity to use their Farmer's Market coupons for the year, and farmers the last chance to sell off their produce.
