Taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre in November, the Circle Craft Market is an amazing place for Christmas shopping and quality art gift ideas.
The market happens from November 6th to 10th in 2024 (which includes the Remembrance Day Weekend). It’s a huge event and a very impressive one too. Artists from around the province flock to the market each year to showcase and sell their wares.
For full details about the market, see the official Circle Craft Market website.
This article contains the following information about the Circle Craft Market:
What’s Special About Circle Craft? | Dates & Times | Location | Tickets & Admission | Exhibitors | What Else to Expect | Tips & Advice | About Circle Craft | C=Craft Store Video | Other Information
Circle Craft Christmas Market at the Vancouver Convention Centre
The Circle Craft Holiday Market is one of the largest and most impressive craft fairs in Western Canada. Close to 300 exhibitors set up booths to sell everything from handmade jewellery to soaps, home decor, locally-made art and hundreds of Christmas present ideas you won’t find at most other places. In a typical year more than 40,000 people attend!
For full details about the event, visit the Circle Craft Market website.
What’s Special About Circle Craft?
The Circle Craft Market is exceptional for a number of reasons.
- First – it’s huge! You won’t find this many talented local BC artists, artisans and culinary creators under one roof this time of year anywhere!
- Second – the quality of the products is exceptional. This is an upscale market featuring Canadian handcrafted goods, art and artisanal products.
- Third – Circle Craft is a BC Artist Cooperative, meaning that it’s owned and operated by artists. It’s local!
If you want to support local artists and find something unique, of high-quality and memorable for yourself or someone special, then this is an incredible place to go!
Circle Craft Dates & Times
The Circle Craft Fair is a five-day event that takes place in early to mid-November each year. In 2024 the event runs from Wednesday, November 6th, until Sunday, November 10th.
The market is open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On the Saturday it runs from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm, and on the Sunday it goes from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.
For full details about the event, visit the Circle Craft Market website.
Circle Craft Location
The Vancouver Convention Centre West at 1055 Canada Place is where the Circle Craft Market takes place. (It’s in the newer, main building, not in Canada Place which is the complex with the big white sails and Pan Pacific Hotel.)
Tickets & Admission
Regular admission to the Circle Craft Market costs $16 for adults and $12 for both seniors and youth (ages 65+ and 13 to 17). Children 12 years and younger have free admission.
TIP: Last year, admission after 5:00 pm was half price on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This may or may not be the case again in 2024. If you buy your tickets far enough in advance online, you can also likely save yourself about 25%.
Note: Admission is usually good for unlimited re-entry. Tickets are non-transferable, but they are normally valid for the full five days and allow re-entry for the same person throughout the entire event. If you only plan to return later the same day, all you need is a re-entry stamp on the back of your hand. If you want to return on another day, you need to fill out a digital form at the event and get your photo taken. A re-entry pass will then be e-mailed to you. You need to apply for this at the event on your first day, however, before you leave.
For full details about the event, visit the Circle Craft Market website.
Circle Craft Exhibitors
Exhibitors at the Circle Craft Market include local, BC and Canadian artists and artisans. There are glassblowers, leather workers, wood and metal sculptors, fashion and jewellery designers, toy makers, chocolatiers, gourmet bakers, BC wineries and all kinds of talented artisans participating. In fact, participants typically include the following;
- Over 12 candle and soap makers
- Over 30 adult fashion and kids clothing designers
- Close to 40 fashion and fine jewellery makers
- 20+ potters and ceramic artists
- 20+ gourmet food manufacturers
- Over 24 glass, leather and metal product artisans
- Almost 40 exhibitors offering fashion accessories
- Dozens of other creators of amazing products
What Else to Expect
At the Circle Craft Market expect to see lots of people, beautiful displays of art and handmade artisanal products, festive Christmas decorations and a red carpet to walk on. You’ll also find plenty of friendly artist vendors to chat with and buy from.
In addition to all the many artists with their exhibits for sale, the Circle Craft Market also features live entertainment with local dancers, singers and musicians. As well, for the convenience of shoppers, there is an on-site restaurant and both coat check and parcel storage services.
For full details about the event, visit the Circle Craft Market website.
Tips & Advice
Below are some tips to help you make the most of your Circle Craft Market experience.
TIP #1: If you like what you see then check out the Circle Craft Shop & Gallery at #1-1666 Johnston Street at the Net Loft next time you’re at Granville Island. It’s not as big and extensive as the fair, but it’s open 360 days a year and features works by many of the same artists.
TIP #2: In addition to window shopping and pampering yourself and friends with special gifts, be sure to enjoy the festive live entertainment. Also, look out for the live artisan demonstrations taking place over the course of the five days. Weavers, seamstresses, jewellers, leather makers, stamp artists and potters demonstrate their techniques at various times.
TIP #3: Most of the exhibitors are themselves the artists and creators of the products you’ll see at the market. Unless they happen to be totally swamped at the time with customers, chat with them and ask about their art. It’ll enhance your experience and they’ll love to tell you about their creations, how things are made and what inspires them to do what they do.
TIP #4: If you want to save a couple of dollars then don’t forget to buy your tickets online in advance. Also, if you show up after 5:00 pm on weekdays, then admission is usually half price.
About Circle Craft
Circle Craft is a local BC Artist Cooperative that has been supporting local artists since the early 1970s. Its mission is “to promote the development, recognition and success of members and their work.”
The cooperative has been running the Circle Craft Market event in November annually for over 40 years, since 1973, and also has a year-round store on Granville Island.
Circle Craft Store Video
To give you an idea of what the Circle Craft Store looks like on Granville Island, check out the following video.
Other Information
To learn more about this event, see the Circle Craft Market website. To learn more about the organization behind the market, see the Circle Craft Coop’s website.
For a list of other Christmas craft markets, click Vancouver Craft Fairs.
For more ideas on things to do in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s November Calendar or listing of annual Festivals & Events.
