The North Shore Artisan Market is a market that takes place at the Pipe Shop in North Vancouver’s Shipyards District. It’s a great event!
The markets usually run on select days in the summer. There are also some Christmas-themed events in December. For details about the market in the last month of the year, see our article about the Shipyards Christmas Markets.
North Vancouver’s Artisan Market
Not to be confused with the Lonsdale Artisan Farmers Market, the North Shore Artisan Market is a great event that features handmade products by dozens of local artisans.
The other event, the farmers market, is a tiny outdoor market that takes place in the East Plaza at Lonsdale Quay on Saturdays between May and October. It usually has up to a dozen or so vendors selling fresh farm produce and hand-crafted items.
The North Shore Artisan Market, meanwhile, is a good-sized indoor market that sets up from time to time. The market has no fixed schedule and is located in the Pipe Shop in Shipbuilders’ Square. It typically features between three and four dozen vendors who fill the Pipe Shop with their products. It’s a great event if you like hand-crafted art and gifts, and admission is usually free!
The North Shore Artisan Market is put on by the same people that host the Shipyards Christmas Market in December. They are also the folk behind the indoor artisan market component of the Shipyards Night Market. Both of the other markets are also highly recommended.
When are the Markets?
The market takes place at various times of the year. In 2023, the North Shore Artisan Market ran outdoors on Thursday nights in July and August. In 2023, the Shipyards Christmas Market takes place on the Saturday and Sunday of December 16th and 17th.
Where is the Pipe Shop?
The Pipe Shop’s address is 115 Victory Ship Way. The building is behind the Tap and Barrel Restaurant and in front of the Pinnacle Hotel in Shipbuilders’ Square. It’s about a 5-minute walk east of the SeaBus Terminal at Lonsdale Quay.
(For information about parking in the area, see further below.)
How Much is Admission?
Admission to the market is usually free for the general public. Occasionally it’s by donation with revenues received benefiting a local charity. Normally, however, there is no charge. On the other hand, the vendors do have to pay a fee to participate.
What to Expect at the North Shore Artisan Market
Expect to see lots of talented artists and artisans in the Pipe Shop when the market takes place.
The Pipe Shop is a large and interesting historic building. It was used years ago by the local shipbuilding industry. Today it’s used for events like artisan markets. The Pipe Shop has a great wide-open space that’s perfect for vendor stalls and shoppers.
You can usually expect three or so corridors of vendor stalls at the market. Visitors can walk up and down each section and admire the products on either side of the aisle.
The North Shore Artisan Market typically features a wide assortment of beautiful handcrafted products. You’ll find everything from exotic soaps to candles, clothing, chocolates, paintings, pottery and even craft spirits. The market is a great addition to the Shipyards District and a perfect place to find unique gifts you won’t find in regular stores.
Artisan Market Video
To give you a really good idea of what to expect at the North Shore Artisan Market, check out the following video. It shows scenes from the market from when we visited in August of 2021.
What Else is in the Area?
The Pipe Shop is in a vibrant neighbourhood. Within steps of the building is Shipyard Commons which is probably the largest covered plaza in the Lower Mainland. In summer it has a water spray park and in winter it’s home to a giant outdoor skating rink.
Also just outside the Pipe Shop is Shipbuilders’ Square which is where numerous events occur throughout the year. It’s also a place where you can drink alcohol in public when events aren’t happening. It’s one of a number of outdoor venues where you can take your own adult beverages and drink them. Cates Deck and Waterfront Park are two other similarly alcohol-friendly places just a 2-minute and 10-minute walk away.
Also within a 5-minute walk of the Pipe Shop are numerous restaurants, the Burrard Drydock Pier, North Vancouver’s MONOVA Museum, the Polygon Gallery and the Lonsdale Quay Public Market. It’s an impressive area with lots to see and do!
Where to Park
If you aren’t fortunate enough to have arrived by SeaBus or bicycle, it’s good to know that there is a fair bit of parking in the Lower Lonsdale area of North Vancouver. There is on-street parking along Esplanade Avenue, 1st Street, 2nd Street and 3rd Street. You’ll also find spots along some of the various avenues going up the hill.
There is also the ICBC Parkade at 51 Rogers Avenue (just off Esplanade) and another at Lonsdale Quay. A new large underground parkade is also right by the Pipe Shop, at 125 Victory Ship Way.
On-street parking in the area is free, but with a 1 or 2-hour limit depending on where you find a spot. After 6 pm though you can park for as long as you want. Parking in the parkades, however, is not free. They generally cost between about $3 and $5 an hour.
Other Information
For more information about the market, see the Artisan Market‘s website.
To learn more about what’s happening at the Pipe Shop and in the Lower Lonsdale area at different times of the year, see the website of the Shipyards BIA.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale
- The Shipyards District
- Places You Can Drink Alcohol in North Vancouver
- Vancouver’s North Shore
- Vancouver Christmas Craft Fairs
- Lower Mainland Farmers Markets
- Vancouver’s Best Places for Shopping
