Kensington Holiday Craft Fair

The Kensington Holiday Craft Fair is a Christmas-themed artisan market. It takes place at the Kensington Community Centre in Vancouver in December.

The free event usually happens on a weekend in early December.

Check out the City of Vancouver‘s website for details about the community centre. Continue reading for information about the craft fair. See the Kensington Community Centre’s Recreation Guide to learn about other events and activities at the same venue.

Craft Fair at Kensington Community Centre

At the Kensington Holiday Craft Fair there is a wide range of handmade products for sale including cards, Christmas ornaments, crocheted items, cutting boards and bath products. There are also vendors selling homemade food items including cookies, macarons and dried candy. Participating artisans last year numbered around 50, which is actually quite a bit more than in 2023.

When we attended the event a couple of years ago we also saw jewellery, ceramics, knitted toques and scarves, health & beauty products and art. Other great gift ideas were handmade stockings, gnomes, Santas and snowmen, as well as keychains, magnets, bookmarks, bracelets, crocheted animal plushies, body care creams, bath salts, soaps, and household items including aprons and dishcloths. There are always so many wonderful things to buy and admire.

At the Kensington Holiday Craft Fair there are also drinks and a few snacks for sale run by the Kensington Youth Council.

Where and When is the Craft Fair

The Kensington Community Centre’s is in Kensington Park at 5175 Dumfries Street. It’s not far from the corner of Knight Street and 33rd Avenue in the City of Vancouver. The venue has a dance studio, seniors’ centre, skateboard park, swimming pool and fitness centre. It also has a preschool and pottery studio. In addition to its recreational facilities, the facility hosts events and programs throughout the year including a holiday craft fair in December.

Last year’s Kensington Holiday Craft Fair happened on Saturday, December 7th. It ran between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm in the community centre’s gymnasium. The event will likely happen around the same time in 2025, although exact details are to be confirmed.

Kensington Holiday Craft Fair

Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions and extra information to help you make the most of your experience at the craft fair.

TIP #1: Admission to the event is free and so is the parking.

TIP #2: Combine your visit to the craft fair with a swim in the pool or a workout in the gym. Queen Elizabeth Park and Deer Lake Park are also just a five- or eight-minute drive away in different directions.

TIP #3: BC Buy Local Week is a campaign that reminds people about the importance of buying local and supporting local. The campaign ran from December 2nd until the 8th last year. Buying your Christmas gifts for friends and family from local artisans is an awesome way to support local businesses and keep your dollars in the community, and shopping at the Kensington Holiday Craft Fair is a great way to do that.