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Bearspaw Christmas Market offers 'quality vendors'

The sixth annual Bearspaw Christmas Market is just around the corner, ready to wow crowds at RockPointe Church Nov. 22 and 23.

“It’s always interesting because our website and Facebook page start getting more pings after our advertising banners go up,” said organizer Christine Wedgewood.

“It definitely increases in excitement in the lead-up to it. It’s a great show in a great venue. Who wouldn’t love being out there? Stunning views of the mountains and a beautiful facility – we’re very lucky to be able to have a show there.”

More than 90 entrepreneurs from across southern Alberta will be selling their products, according to Wedgewood. Items available for purchase will range from holiday items, to home decor, handmade jewelry, bath products and more.

“There’s something for everybody,” she said. “It’s a curated show, so there are a lot more applications than we can fit. We pick the top selected vendors that make exquisite handmade products.”

Wedgewood said most vendors are from the region, including Cochrane, Airdrie, Chestermere and Calgary. Others come from communities further south, such as Okotoks and High River.

“The beauty of it is, it’s all small business, handmade, local Alberta,” she said. “We’re supporting small business here, by doing what we do.”

Considering the Bearspaw market occurs during peak Christmas market season, when several similar events are taking place around the same time, Wedgewood said the quality vendors at Bearspaw sets the market apart.

“A lot of people don’t go to the smaller sales anymore,” she said. “We can’t compete with things like Festival of Craft, Spruce Meadows and stuff like that, because those are huge draws and great shows. We don’t even try to compete with that. But what we do to set ourselves apart is make sure we have a really great selection of local vendors.”

Wedgewood, who has organized the market since its inception in 2014, added she gets many calls after the market from shoppers who are curious how to get in touch with some of the vendors they liked.

“It’s good, because they’re all from the area,” she said. “In times of economic downturn, I think it’s great to support local people.”

Admission to the market costs $2 for attendees aged 14 or older, and proceeds will support both the Tails to Tell Animal Rescue Shelter in Crossfield and the Calgary Food Bank. The event is free for those younger than 14.

Along with the shopping, the market will include photo opportunities with Santa Claus Nov. 23 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wedgewood said a professional photographer will be available to snap a pic of shoppers with Old St. Nick for a fee of $10, or attendees can pay $5 to take a photo using their own device.

According to Wedgewood, proceeds from the photos with Santa will also be donated to Tails to Tell.

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