Holiday market returning to Guysborough this weekend

December is known as a month full of many things, including food, gifts, decorations and laughs.

And this year, the Guysborough Christmas Market returns after previously being scaled back due to COVID-19.

The holiday market will take place in the gym at the Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex (CLC) from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 with local vendors offering hand painted wall art, crocheted and knitted items, jewelry, carpentry, carvings, sea glass art, pebble art, doll clothes, drinks, baking, coastal crafts, custom tumblers, and more.

Marie Rainy, one of this year’s organizers, moved to Guysborough in December 2021.

“I needed something to sink my teeth into being winter and new to the community, so I learned how to crochet,” said Rainey. “After the winter was over, I found out there was a market located at the Jost building at the waterfront each summer.”

However, this past summer the market was scaled back.

“This was unfortunate because I had a bag full of hats made,” said Rainey laughing.

As a way to get involved in the community Rainey decided to take over the market.

“My previous work experience was with the public and running a business, so I thought why not. I loved the

waterfront, so what a perfect opportunity to continue to serve the community with farm fresh vegetables, baked goods and some handmade items as well as some small home businesses,” Rainey said.

“So now that the summer is finished, Artswork East and Guysborough Waterfront Market decided to collaborate and do a Christmas market. We are having 30 plus vendors; some vendors are having many tables and some are sharing. Needless to say, I can’t comment on to what happened with the COVID years, even though COVID is still with us. I believe the market was at a standstill just like the rest of the world,” continued Rainey.

Julie Anne Fox is also one of this year’s market organizers.

“As vice-president of Artworks East, I was asked to co-ordinate the Christmas show. In the summer our two organizations occupy buildings beside each other at the Guysborough Waterfront so it seemed like a great opportunity to get more vendors,” said Fox.

The upcoming market is special due to how scaled back it had to be last year due to the pandemic.

“Artworks East held a Christmas market at the Roadhouse last year but we only had 11 vendors,” said Fox.

However, organizers are more than making up for that.

“It’s going to be bigger and better,” said Fox.