New West Night Market

New West Craft is a series of artisan markets that take place twice a month in New Westminster. In 2023 they host a few Christmas markets at River Market.

In 2023 New West Craft’s main Christmas-themed market is on December 2nd. It takes place just a week before the New West Holiday Market which is a great event outside New Westminster’s City Hall. Other Lower Mainland craft fairs around the same time include the Kensington Holiday Craft Fair and West End Holiday Craft Fair in Vancouver. There are also Made in the 604 Markets, the Vancouver Christmas Market and Coquitlam Christmas Night Market.

Below is information about the various artisan markets hosted by the Arts Council of New Westminster.

New West Craft Christmas Markets

Presented by The Arts Council of New Westminster, the markets happen throughout the year on the first and third Saturdays of the month. The holiday markets in 2023 are on the Saturdays of November 4th and 18th, as well as December 9th and 16th. There’s also a special Holiday Night Market on December 2nd.

The above markets all happen at River Market which is located at 810 Quayside Drive in New Westminster. Admission to the events is free!

Baked Goods at Craft Market

New West Craft Holiday Night Market

The New West Craft Holiday Night Market is an annual event. In 2023 it features more than 50 vendors. The event takes place between 3:00 and 9:00 pm on Saturday, December 2nd, at the River Market at 810 Quayside Drive. Admission is free.

This event features live holiday music and lots of interesting handmade artisan products. Food, drinks and other unique gift ideas are also available from River Market eateries and shops.

New West Craft Holiday Market

The events on the Saturdays of November 4th and 18th, plus December 9th and 16th, feature more than 35 vendors at River Market which is a market-style mall at the edge of the Fraser River. Each market runs from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm and admission is free.

At this event, in addition to all the artisan products, there is delicious food and drinks available at River Market eateries and other great gift ideas from River Market shops.

Quayside Voices at River Market — Quayside Voices at the River Market

New West Craft at Uptown

New West Craft at Uptown is an event co-hosted by New West Craft and the Uptown Business Association. In 2022 it took place on Friday, December 23rd, from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Whether it takes place again in 2023 is to be confirmed.

Last year the event featured around two dozen vendors, live festive music, Christmas lights, family-friendly activities and hot chocolate.

In years when it happens, New West Craft at Uptown takes place outside the Royal City Centre and Westminster Centre at the corner of 6th Avenue and 6th Street in the heart of downtown New Westminster. The venue is about two kilometres up the hill from the River Market where the other New West Craft events take place on other days.

Interestingly, the location for New West Craft at Uptown is the same as New Westminster’s popular Uptown Live event which happens in the summer.

About The Arts Council

The Arts Council of New Westminster is a non-profit organization that supports and showcases local artists and the arts. According to its website, “the Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors.”

Operating since 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster hosts a wide variety of arts-related programs and events. These include New West Craft, the New Westminster Culture Crawl, Queens’s Park Arts Festival, Queen’s Park Concert Series and other activities.