Held at Chilliwack Heritage Park in November, the Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market is one of the largest holiday season markets in the Vancouver region.
Dates for the event in 2021 were going to be November 19th to 21st. However, because of flooding in the area (including on the Trans-Canada Highway), the event was cancelled.
Christmas Craft Market at Chilliwack Heritage Park
The Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market is a massive event. It showcases all kinds of artisan products, from locally-designed clothing to homemade gourmet goodies to handmade art to craft distilled alcoholic spirits.
Market Dates and Location
In 2019 the event celebrated its 45th season with over 180 vendors on the weekend of November 15th to 17th at the following times (and 2022 details will likely be similar):
- Friday, November 15th: from noon until 8:00 pm
- Saturday, November 16th: from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm
- Sunday, November 17th: from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the fact that the market attracts over 10,000 shoppers each year, it was cancelled for 2020.
The market was expecting to be back again in the fall of 2021, on the weekend of November 19th to 21st. Because of flooding in the Fraser Valley, however, the event got cancelled for yet another year. Hopefully it can return in 2022.
Each year the venue for the craft fair is at Chilliwack Heritage Park. The venue’s address is 44140 Luckakuck Way in Chilliwack which is just east of Abbotsford.
To get there from the Vancouver direction along the Trans-Canada Highway, take Exit #116 at Lickman Road.
Christmas Market Admission
In years when it doesn’t get cancelled, admission to the market is about $5 per person at the door. Children under 11 years of age are free.
Parking is by donation with proceeds benefiting whichever local community organization or youth sports team is helping direct traffic on each particular day. A local non-profit group helps each day and benefits from parking donations.
Market Products for Sale
Over 175 vendors participate in the Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market each year. This makes it one of the largest events of its kind in the Lower Mainland. Artisan product categories and a preliminary number of vendors in each from a recent year are listed below for an idea of what to expect in 2022.
Art Products (50)
- Pottery & Ceramics (10)
- Glasswork & Metalwork (11)
- Woodwork (16)
- Other Visual Art (13)
Clothing & Accessories (33)
- Knitted, Woven & Crocheted Products (11)
- Miscellaneous Sewn Fabric Products (22)
- And more to come
Food & Drink (41)
- Food (33)
- Wine & Spirits (8)
Miscellaneous Other Vendor Categories (38)
- Bath & Body (15)
- Home & Decor (13)
- Bookbinding & Literature (4)
- Miscellaneous (6)
About the Craft Market
The Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market is put on by the Chilliwack Community Arts Council. Revenues from admission are used by the organization to fund art scholarships, put on other community events and subsidize art classes for members of the community.
Artisans at the market apply to participate. Their products are scrutinized by a selection jury which ensures a high standard of quality at the event. All products at the Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market have been handmade by the vendor. No finished products are allowed to be made by other people, from a craft kit or imported from abroad.
Now in its 47th year, the market is a fabulous event because of its size, the quality of the products, and the fact that it features local artists and supports a great cause.
Other Information
For further details about Chilliwack’s annual holiday season artisan fair, click Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market.
While in the area, other things you might want to check out include the following:
- West Coast Christmas Craft Show – another large artisan market that usually takes place on or around the same weekend in Abbotsford.
- Atchelitz Threshermen’s Association Museum – a museum and historical site that’s right next door to Chilliwack Heritage Park and open on Saturdays in the fall.
- For ideas on other things to do in the area click Fraser Valley.
TIP: Gas prices are always cheaper in the Fraser Valley because municipalities in that region are exempt from Metro Vancouver’s transit gas taxes. As a result, be sure to fill up your tank in Abbotsford, Chilliwack or somewhere else in the region! The savings can sometimes be as much as 10 cents per litre!
For a list of other similar craft markets in other parts of the Lower Mainland, click Vancouver Craft Fairs.
For a list of other types of events throughout the region, check out Vancouver’s November or December calendars or click Festivals & Events.
And for a list of other Christmas-y activities throughout the Lower Mainland, click Best Christmas Activities.
