There are few places where one can find 200 artisans selling their goods, a place to roast marshmallows, see Santa’s reindeers and workshop, enjoy a hayride or sample wine and cheese.
The Millarville Christmas Market has all of those amenities attracting people from all over Alberta and organizers are gearing up for the 23rd annual holiday event.
“There’s some people who put it on their calendar every year who come from as far away as Edmonton,” said market manager Carmen Ditzler.
More than 15,000 people attended last year’s market and while many came from the local area and Calgary, others travelled from Medicine Hat and Lethbridge to come to the market, she said.
This year’s market runs the weekend of Nov. 11-13 at the Millarville Race Track and is open Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Friday night will feature a lighting ceremony, where vendors’ booths and the racetrack will be lit up. A wine and cheese event will also take place in the tent by the kitchen. A moment of silence will be held Friday at 11 a.m. to honour Remembrance Day.
Each day, visitors can go on a free hayride, and children can decorate a cookie and make a craft at the Santa’s Workshop. Prairie Sky Resource Centre has sponsored the workshop, which allows children over the age of six to stay for an hour while their parents shop. Two student groups from Oilfields High School will also offer photos with Santa Claus and pony rides as fundraisers. On Sunday, Santa’s reindeers will make an appearance at the market, and people will have the chance to visit and take photos with them.
While there are many other craft shows, Millarville features many local artisans and handmade goods, said Ditzler. The market will not only feature vendors who have been to Millarville every single year, but also quite a few new vendors will be there this year, she explained.
“We have our loyal people who come every year as vendors, and then we have people who are new and then we a have lot of people who want to be in, but don’t get in.”
She said there is only a certain amount of space for vendors and a jury process is held to maintain a high quality of products.
Vendors will be selling everything from glass, artwork, leather, metal and wooden goods, candles, books, jewelry, clothing, wreaths, and winter planters. Food vendors will offer holiday treats, ethnic foods, Alberta whisky cake, English mince pies, local vegetables and much more.
Wendy Nelson and Deb Russell have sold their specialty coffee at the market every year for about 15 years.
Nelson said they both have other jobs, but they bring their coffee to the market, which is something she looks forward to every year.
“It’s the locals, it’s the people. You get to know them after all those years. They all come for their specialty coffee,” said Nelson.
Nelson, a Turner Valley resident, said the market is a nice social event and offers a variety of quality vendors. People go out of their way to make their booths look attractive and festive, she added.
While she said they are lucky to be the only vendors offering specialty coffee by the cup aside from regular coffee at the concession stand, their sales depend on the weather.
Their booth is set up in the indoor portion of the market, but Nelson recalled when they used to sell coffee out of the back of a horse trailer, with heaters to keep them warm.
This year, market visitors can warm up by the bonfire, buy a kit to make smores and someone will even roast chestnuts.
“Any kind of thing you can possibly think of, we’ll have it,” laughed Ditzler.
Admission to the market is $5 per person or $10 per carload. Funds raised go toward local programs as the group is a non-profit organization. For more information visit http://www.millarvilleracetrack.com/event/millarville-christmas-market.
