It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Published Thursday November 5th, 2009
Christmas wouldn't be the same without the annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Market, which takes place in the city every November and December.
This year marks the 35th year that talented crafters have gathered, to sell a wide array of items and help get people in the spirit of the season.
As Derek Kirby, an organizer with the market, made last-minute preparations for the sale, taking place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Capital Exhibit Centre, he took a few moments to reflect on the history of the event and why it's still going strong all these years later.
"I modestly claim that the Christmas Arts and Crafts Market is the premier show of the season in this province," he says, smiling. "Each year we have 85 crafts people participating in each show and in excess of 10,000 come to visit and purchase quality gifts."
It originally started because there were no Christmas shows in Fredericton other than Christmas Choice up at the University of New Brunswick, says Kirby, noting that one is still going strong as well.
His wife, Gina Kirby, had a booth at the Boyce Farmers' Market. One day the Kirbys were chatting with some of the other vendors and everyone agreed what was needed was a Christmas craft show in the same style as the New Brunswick Craft Council's festival that at that time was held in Mactaquac Provincial Park in the fall.
"I was the only one who wasn't an active craftsperson," remembers Kirby, so he took on the job of organizing it.
They looked at different venues, but decided that the Boyce Farmers' Market was the best spot to hold it.
"We of course couldn't have it on the weekend, so we rented it for a Thursday and Friday and the manager there was quite enthusiastic, as really there was nothing else going on there at all. That was back in the early '70s."
The participants that first year were a mix of market vendors and members of The New Brunswick Crafts Council.
"We were able to get enough people to fill all the stalls," he says, adding that this was before the market renovated and expanded.
"We had it in mid-November. We did some advertising and kept our fingers crossed, because we had no idea what the response was going to be."
They obviously filled a need, as the place was packed.
"You essentially couldn't move there for two days. We were just amazed at the support," says Kirby. "We then asked everybody if they would like to do it again about three weeks later, in December."
The next year, organizers spread the two dates out, holding it just before the first full weekend in November and the corresponding weekend in December, he says, the logic being that those who wanted to buy items to send away could shop at the first sale and still meet Canada Post deadlines.
When the market expanded a bit, he says, the sale expanded with it, but it was still a tight fit in that location.
"Someone decided to run a parallel show at the Aitken Centre on the same weekend, the Thursday-Friday, in November. They had a lot of participants."
When asked if the Christmas Arts and Crafts Market would continue, he says, "I said we will go on, no matter what."
The second year it happened, the organizers listened to the public and heard comments like, "I don't know why we should go up there when the same people are down here."
Plus, notes Kirby, people had to pay to get into the show at the Aitken Centre and the Christmas Arts and Crafts Market has never charged admission.
The event continued at the Boyce Farmers' Market for 10 years. They looked around for other venues, but had no luck finding something suitable for the show that fit their price range.
Then the Capital Exhibit Centre, once home to Roxy's, a rollerskating rink, became available.
"That was 25 years ago. We did one show at the market that year, the November one, and in December we went to the Capital Exhibit Centre."
The bigger space meant they could have more participants and the response from the public was phenomenal.
"Again, we didn't charge. We never charged, the logic being that you don't pay to go to a shopping mall," says Kirby.
"Our philosophy is you can come down to the show, you can walk around and you can come back - because we're now a three-day show," he says.
"Going to the Capital Exhibit Centre, we're now open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well."
The vendors come from all over the Maritimes, but there have been some come from Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario and, says Kirby, in the last couple years they've become international with the addition of a crafts worker from Fort Kent, Maine.
"People wait for these shows," he says. "Most people know these shows are coming."
Some shoppers come looking for specific items, others to see what's new.
The shows are steadily busy, he says, and often have lineups of 100 to 200 people waiting when they open on the Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
This year, the show is being held Nov. 6-8 and Dec. 4-6. On Friday it is open from noon to 6 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
What makes the sale special, and keeps people coming back year after year, is the quality, says Kirby.
"The standards are based, historically, on the New Brunswick Crafts Council standards and those of other major shows," he says.
Thanks to a wide array of vendors, there is something for everyone at the Christmas Arts and Crafts Market.
This year there will be pottery, woodwork, furniture, leather work, weaving, traditional toys, stained glass, wool products, teddy bears, pewter, maple products and other food products, artwork, hats, baskets, clothing, jewelry and more.
There are also gifts available at a range of prices, he notes.
While the show is a treat for shoppers, it is also a great experience for the craftspeople. They get together on the Saturday evening during the show, to catch up and relax. That's something they started 15 years ago and it has become an integral part of the event.
"It's good fun. The people, over the years, they've become friends," says Kirby.
He's heard it described as a family, and he'd have to agree with that assessment.
"I don't just sign them up and disappear. When the show is on, I'm there all the time, floating around," he says, usually wearing the distinct sweatshirt bearing the name Bank of New Maryland that was given to him 15 years ago by the participants.
"It only comes out for the craft shows."
Though he does a lot of the work, he's quick to point out he doesn't do it alone.
"It's not just me. Gina does a lot as well."
Kirby hopes everyone comes out and helps the show celebrate 35 years. On top of the shopping, there is always something special for the children, such as a clown or face painting.
Both Christmas Arts and Crafts Markets have a fundraising component as well.
Though there is no charge at the door, for the past few years, the Fredericton Community Kitchen or the Fredericton Emergency Shelters will be there accepting donations if anyone wishes to contribute.
"One is at one show, one is at the other," says Kirby, adding, "The public has been very generous."
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