The crackle of a warm fire and joyful Christmas music meant one thing for visitors to Lansdowne Park recently: the annual Ottawa Christmas Market had begun.
With more than 50 vendors and a longer schedule, visitors have more opportunities to get into the holiday spirit this year.
The market runs every Friday to Sunday until Dec. 22, and then every day from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Activities this year include Santa’s Workshop, a cocktail class, a silent disco night and a breakfast with Santa event.
Laura Morosan, who owns an organic skin-care and candle business called Blusaffron, said her business has been at the market since 2019.
She said the event has grown significantly since its first year, which has brought its own challenges and changes, including an extended schedule.
“Up to this year, it was over just before Christmas so that’s a big change,” she said. “We’ll see how it’s going to go, and we’ll see for next year what’s going to be new and exciting.”
Other vendors say they welcome the change.
“We do our best business at this time of year, so it’s really great to have that,” said Sember Wood, who helps run the Alicja Confections booth.
“I’m happy about the longer schedule, I think the market is a bustling place and I think giving people more time to shop and vendors more opportunities to sell, I think that’s a great thing,” she said. “From a personal standpoint, I’m happy to have more hours to work because it’s a pleasant place to be.”
Another vendor, Arielle Russell said that while she isn’t sure if Alpaca-Tracks, the booth she helps run, will stay open for the entire schedule, she thinks it is a good opportunity for other vendors.
“Businesses do really well here and it’s a good opportunity for them to build their economics for sales in the new year since New Year’s is still a holiday,” she said. “I’m sure some people are like, ‘Ah I don’t wanna do it,’ but I think overall it’s a good opportunity for people.”
She said the market is a great place to bring visitors to the city.
“I personally don’t feel like Ottawa has enough festive things going on, I feel like we depend on local people to shop locally,” she said. “I like seeing this stuff, because when people come to visit, you can be like ‘Oh let’s go to this Christmas Market,’ and I personally have a hard time finding things to show people other than Parliament.”
Gillian Dawson, a market regular, said the sense of community is one of her favourite parts of the event.
She said she visits the market for “the festive community feel, seeing familiar faces, hitting up my favourite merchants who I reliably know to be here like [Uptown Sox].”
“There’s a lot of local makers here that you can use whatever Christmas budgets that you have this year to support.”
Ashley Garbutt, who has helped run the Uptown Sox booth for the past four years, said it’s one of the most popular booths at the market, but there is plenty to choose from.
“I find people are always walking by and giggling when they read the different sayings and stuff so maybe it brings a bit of extra joy,” she said. “Every year there’s something new, there’s something for everyone.”
Visitors can still take part in purchasing from the market until Jan. 5. Other markets nearby are also easily accessible, including the 613Holiday Night Market that runs from five – 10 p.m. on Dec. 6 and Dec. 13.
