A flip in today’s calendar will reveal that December is about to start. And if mall shopping has already brought you exhaustion, perhaps it’s time to shift your focus to smaller, local venues – such as St. Albert’s Indoor Christmas Farmers’ Market.
The market starts up this Saturday, Nov. 30 and runs every Saturday until Dec. 21 in the front lobby of St. Albert Place.
There will be about fifty to sixty vendors selling farm-fresh food items including winter vegetables, baked goods and fresh sausages and bison meat, said local chamber president Lynda Moffat.
But there’s also ample opportunity to stock up on homemade gifts and crafts, such as jewelry, knitted items and Christmas decorations.
“There is a whole variety of stuff and it’s just wonderful every year to see it come together,” said Moffat.
The Christmas market originally started out as an indoor market held once St. Albert’s farmers’ market closed in October. But Moffat said the chamber noticed that there were quieter periods in autumn when shoppers wouldn’t come out as much.
So they started up the annual Christmas market in December, she said, which continues to sell food but also places more emphasis on seasonal items.
With its wide range of products Moffat said the market is also in the perfect location to inspire some shopping in the downtown Perron District, which offers a variety of boutique, gift and book stores.
“It can be a whole excursion while you shop downtown and shop local and give all of these small retailers some of your business while you go to the market or even before,” she said.
The Indoor Christmas Farmers’ Market will run every Saturday from Nov. 30 to Dec. 21 at St. Albert Place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call 780-458-2833 or visit stalbertfarmersmarket.com.
