The holiday season is around the corner and many in Ottawa are heading to markets to start their Christmas shopping while also supporting local. Thousands showed up for the Nepean Christmas Craft Show looking for local goods. For the Fels family, it’s a seasonal tradition. “It’s so great,” said Jessie Fels, who was at the craft show with her family. “We love supporting local, especially when it’s so close to the holiday season. It’s always nice to try new things and to get some treats.” The market is held for several days with dozens of vendors on display. “We have everything ranging from food to handmade crafts, Christmas ornaments, Christmas pictures, handmade hats, handmade scarves, sweaters, you name it,” said Marino Palarchio, an organizer with the Nepean Christmas Craft Show. “Anything handmade is probably here.” Organizers say they expect 3,000 people to pass through the event on Saturday alone. The owner of Kinderhook Crafts had a stall set up with carefully crafted festive pieces. “It takes hours upon hours,” said Lori-Rupert Abrams, Kinderhook Crafts owner. “I don’t do one piece at a time. For ornaments, I would probably do six to ten at a time and that would take me all day.” Shoppers took home unique crafts meant as gifts or to put on display. “It means the world to me to support local,” said Rupert-Abrams. “The times we have now, we need to support our home based small businesses instead of some of the big box stores.” Meanwhile, at the Metcalfe Farmers’ Christmas Market, shoppers were met with holiday music and a number of stands from the farming community. “Supporting local gives us also the opportunity to grow better food,” said Maurice Leonard, co-owner of Lunenburg Gardens. “People are cheerful. They’re happy and they come here with an intention of getting stuff for Christmas and enjoying it.” “We like to see the vendors and see what they have to sell,” said Sylvia Chapman, who was at the market with her family. “We say hi and get some good food, get some nice handmade Christmas gifts, so we really love coming here, it’s part of our holiday traditions.” Some vendors even make the trip from out of town to set up a stand at the holiday market. “I’ve been part of this market for a couple of years now and it’s a great way to kick off the season,” said Lisa Burton, owner of the Cozy Crochet Closet. “Everyone’s always excited when it comes because it’s like the mark of the beginning of the season for us.”
