Tag Archives: Vancouver

East Van Holiday Markets 2025

1 Nov

It’s that time of year again when holiday markets ramp up. This year maybe a little earlier which also means there are many more opportunities to shop local this holiday season. We love sharing all the great artisan markets and craft fairs coming up over the next couple of months all with a view to making shopping local easier for you. Whether you are looking for a gift for someone for Christmas, a birthday or maybe a housewarming gift, there are so many local options to chose from.  For those that don’t know “for every $100 spent with a BC local business, $64 is re-circulated back into our BC economy versus $14 for multi nationals. Why? Because locally owned businesses circulate more dollars in the community compared to multinational organizations.”

We’ve said it before, but we will say it again when you buy from a local maker, you are supporting those living and working in your local community. All have created a business doing something they love and are passionate about.  We are 100% behind supporting those local dreamers and makers. Also, buying local is better for the environment. Items purchased at local markets are not being shipped long distances and all will have much less packaging. All around win win. To that end, we have again created a list of all the artisan markets and craft fairs happening in East Vancouver this holiday season. Things are kicking off early so we invite you to review our list of East Van Holiday Markets for 2025.

NOVEMBER 2025

Nov. 1: Fair Trade & Artisan Market–Trinity Grace Church 803 E. 16th Ave 10-4
Nov. 1: Made In The 604 – Heritage Hall 11-5
Nov. 2: Made In The 604 – Heritage Hall 11-5

Nov. 13: Art & Craft Marche – La Fabrique St-George 7-10 pm
Nov. 15: Vancouver Pop Market – Holiday Preview Heritage Hall 11-5
Nov. 15: Livia Holiday Market – Livia Sweets 6-10 pm
Nov. 15: Crafts & Cocktails – Forecast Coffee Roasters 6-9 pm
Nov. 16: Vancouver Pop Market – Holiday Preview Heritage Hall 11-5

Nov. 20: Eastside Culture Crawl – Various Locations 5-10
Nov. 20: Art & Craft Marche – La Fabrique St-George 7-10 pm
Nov. 21: Eastside Culture Crawl – Various Locations 5-10

Nov. 22: Got Craft Holiday Market – Croatian Cultural Centre 10-5
Nov. 22: Sunset Family Carnival & Craft Fair – Sunset Comm. Centre 12-4
Nov. 22: Eastside Culture Crawl – Various Locations 11-6
Nov. 23: Got Craft Holiday Market – Croatian Cultural Centre 10-5
Nov. 23: Eastside Culture Crawl – Various Locations 11-6

Nov. 27: Art & Craft Marche – La Fabrique St-George 7-10 pm
Nov. 28: Britannia Winter Market – Britannia Comm. Centre 3-8 pm
Nov. 29: Killarney Community Centre Craft Fair 10-4
Nov. 29: Britannia Winter Market – Britannia Comm. Centre 10-4
Nov. 29: Got Craft Holiday Market – Croatian Cultural Centre 10-5
Nov. 29: Crafts & Cocktails – Forecast Coffee Roasters 6-9 pm
Nov. 30: Britannia Winter Market – Britannia Comm. Centre 10-4
Nov. 30: Got Craft Holiday Market – Croatian Cultural Centre 10-5

DECEMBER 2025

Dec. 4: Make It – PNE Forum 5-9
Dec. 4: Art & Craft Marche – La Fabrique St-George 7-10 pm
Dec. 5: Make It – PNE Forum 11-9
Dec. 5: TOQUE – Western Front 5-9
Dec. 5: Weirdos Market – Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave. 5-10
Dec. 5: Krampusmarket – Strange Fellows Brewing 8-10

Dec. 6: Tugboat Landing Artisan Market – 2010 East Kent Ave S. 11-5
Dec. 6: June Hunter Holiday Studio Sale – 2785 Parker St. 10-4
Dec. 6: TOQUE – Western Front 11-5
Dec. 6: Krampusmarket – Strange Fellows Brewing 11-6
Dec. 6: Weirdos Market – Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave. 11-5
Dec. 6: Make It – PNE Forum 10-6

Dec. 7: Tugboat Landing Artisan Market – 2010 East Kent Ave. S. 11-4
Dec. 7: June Hunter Holiday Studio Sale – 2785 Parker St. 10-4
Dec. 7: Weirdos Market – Russian Hall, 1600 Campbell Ave. 11-5
Dec. 7: TOQUE – Western Front 11-5
Dec. 7: Krampusmarket – Strange Fellows Brewing  11-4
Dec. 7: Make It – PNE Forum 11-5
Dec. 7: Il Centro’s Christmas Market – Italian Cultural Centre 10-3

Dec. 11: Make It! – PNE Forum 5-9
Dec. 12: Weirdos Market – Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave. 5-10
Dec. 12: Make It! – PNE Forum 11-9

Dec. 13: Make It – PNE Forum 10-6
Dec. 13: First Pick Handmade Holiday Market – Heritage Hall 11-6
Dec. 13: Weirdos Market – Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave. 11-5
Dec. 13: Crafts & Cocktails – Forecast Coffee Roasters 6-9 pm
Dec. 14: Make It – PNE Forum 11-5
Dec. 14: First Pick Handmade Holiday Market – Heritage Hall 11-6
Dec. 14: Weirdos Market – Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave. 11-5

Dec. 18: Art & Craft Marche – La Fabrique St-George 7-10 pm
Dec. 20: Good Stuff Market – Heritage Hall 11-5
Dec. 20: Crafts & Cocktails – Forecast Coffee Roasters 6-9 pm
Dec. 21: Good Stuff Market – Heritage Hall 11-5

Is your holiday market not listed? Drop us a note to be added at iliveineastvan@gmail.com.

Vancouver By-Election Saturday April 5th – Vote!

2 Apr

This Saturday, April 5th there is a Vancouver By-Election to fill two vacant seats on Vancouver City Council.  Traditionally, by-elections don’t have the largest voter turnout, but we see there is a marked increase in attendance for this particular by-election. If you are not up to speed on who to vote for or who is running, here are a few places you can check out for more information:

Vancouver Sun – Vancouver By-Election – Seven Candidates From 5 Parties Make Their Pitch

City Watch – Who You Should Vote For Updated April 1, 2025

For the Coles Notes version, in video format, with a rather surprising twist, check out BC Bob, aka Bob Kronbauer, former Publisher of Vancouver Is Awesome.

You can vote from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday, April 5th at any community centre in Vancouver.  If you want more general information, you can also check out the City’s page for the 2025 By-Election.   Have your say, go vote!

28th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl November 14-17, 2024

21 Oct

The 28th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl returns November 14 – 17, 2024. This 4 day visual arts festival features over 500 artists located in some 55 buildings around Vancouver’s Eastside.  The event is an amazing opportunity to check out the amazing creative talent in this City. 

The Eastside Culture Crawl features a wide variety of artists including painters, furniture makers, jewellers, sculptors, potters, photographers, glassblowers and many more mediums. We encourage to take the opportunity to visit artists in their working studios. The Crawl, as it is affectionately known, is a great opportunity to meet the artists and discuss their work and creative process. If you are looking to be inspired, this is event to attend.  

The Eastside Culture Crawl runs from November 14 – 17, 2024. November 14th and 15th runs from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm and November 16th and 17th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Eastside Culture Crawl covers a wide geographical area on the Eastside of the City.  We find the Crawl Map to be a great resource in narrowing down artists and locations you may be interested in visiting.   The Eastside Culture Crawl is a free event and open to all ages.  For more information visit, the Eastside Culture Crawl.

Bits + Bobs Samples & Seconds Sale At The Heritage Hall September 14th

24 Aug

The good folks that bring you the ever popular Got Craft markets are hosting their bi-annual Bits + Bobs Samples and Second Sale Saturday, September 14th.   This unique shopping experience features over 40 local brands that will offer a collection of samples, slights seconds, discontinued items and seasonal merchandise as well as some of their supplies. You can expect to find a variety of items including clothing, ceramics, paper goods, art, jewelry, homewares and a lot more.  Some items we understand will be up to 80% off. So if you are looking for a deal, you may wish to mark your calendar for the Bits + Bobs Samples & Seconds Sale happening September 14th at the Heritage Hall from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you wish to see which vendors will be participating, you can find out more at Got Craft.

The Great Grandview Garage Sale Is Back June 15th

26 May

The popular Great Grandview Garage Sale is back for another year Saturday June 15th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm rain or shine. Whether you are a bargain hunter, looking for an awesome vintage find, or just a great deal on something, this is the spot to be. The Great Grandview Garage Sale is a multi-family garage sale that takes place, as the name eludes, throughout the Grandview-Woodlands area of East Vancouver. Specifically from Broadway to the Burrard Inlet and from Clark Drive to Nanaimo Street. If you live in the area, you are invited to participate and it is FREE to sign up.   Of course, if you have some young entrepreneur at home, a lemonade stand for all those thirsty shoppers might come in handy. Whether you live in a home, walk up apartment building, co-operative housing, no matter, everyone is welcome to participate.  To sign up or see a map of the current locations, visit Great Grandview Garage Sale. Remember, the old adage “One person’s junk is another person’s treasure”.  

Neighbourhood Small Grant Applications Are Now Being Accepted Until April 18, 2024

7 Apr

The Neigbourhood Small Grant program is back for 2024.  The foundation of this program is connecting people within their own communities.  The premise of the program is fairly simple – the best people to affect change in a community, are those that live within it. When money is less of an issue, it allows more ideas to flow.  This is where the grants come in. The Neighbourhood Small Grants program allows you to apply for up to $500 for your idea to connect your community.

What have other people done?   A few ideas include book exchanges, clothing swaps, cooking classes, creating benches and community gardens.  Some other ideas include creating small care packages for seniors with a few spring flowers and crossword puzzles and/or word search games.  For young children, creating a scavenger hunt in a park with prizes or rock painting. People have also created art cards for seniors in long term care. Connection is the key and the ideas are only limited by your imagination and, of course, the $500 budget. Want more ideas or thinking about applying? We invite you to visit Neighbourhood Small Grants for more information and ideas on what others have done with their Neighbourhood Small Grant.

The basic principles of the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program:

  1. Small is beautiful. Small ideas are beautiful and manageable.
  2. Everyone has something to offer. Whether you can teach a skill or give some tips, or provide a service. We all have something valuable to share.
  3. It’s your project. You create how you want it to look and feel.
  4. Create your chosen family.  A platform to help build networks within your community.

Applications are now open until April 18, 2024.   Applications may be accepted for a second cycle in the Fall depending on whether funds are still available. This is a great opportunity to create something memorable for your community.

Seasonal Ornament Making With Laura Vanderlinde November 30 to December 14

21 Nov

Looking to get crafty this holiday season? If you are interested in making your own Christmas ornaments, you may wish to check out this upcoming workshop led by Strathcona potter, Laura Vanderlinde.   You are invited to create your own designs with techniques that will be taught during the course of the workshops.   Bring only your imagination and clay which is purchased on the first day of your class.   This class runs during the day on Thursdays beginning November 30th at 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and going until December 14th.   Cost is $114 not including clay.   To register, visit www.vanrec.ca.

Reflections On Crooked Walking At The Firehall Arts Centre December 2 – 24

19 Nov

The Firehall, along with The McGrane-Pearson Endowment Fund, presents Ann Mortifee’s Reflections on Crooked Walking from Saturday, December 2 to Sunday, December 24, 2023.

Produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and directed by Donna Spencer, Ann Mortifee’s Reflections on Crooked Walking is a JUNO Award-nominated family musical that tells the tale of four people who find themselves the only ones left awake surrounded by sleeping townspeople. Their journey in search of a cure for the mysterious sleeping sickness leads them down a surprising path of deeper self-awareness.  Tickets from $30 and available online at Firehall Arts Centre.

All Souls Night At Mountain View Cemetery October 25 to November 1

24 Oct

You are invited to participate in All Souls Night which takes place at Mountain View Cemetery October 25 to November 1.   This event is curated by artist Paula Jardine and Marina Szijarto and was created to provide opportunities for the public to commemorate their dead with a family-oriented community art event. Artists and community members come together to create a sanctuary for remembrance and reflection. You are encouraged to bring a lantern and candles as well as photos to create a memorial for a loved one in a gentle atmosphere. The event takes place rain or shine so you are encouraged to dress for the weather. Live ambient music can be heard throughout most of the event.   We’ve set out a schedule of some of the events below. For more information, visit Night For All Souls.

The departed they visit us in dreams. They glide across
our memories like shadows over streams.
Inscription on a headstone at Mountain View Cemetery.

October 25th
6:00 pm
Opening Ceremony


October 28th
1:00 pm
Red Dress Ceremony
October 29th
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Book Reading and Creative Ceremony
October 29th
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Clay Memorial Vessels

November 1st
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Closing Ceremony


All events are free. Donations are welcome.

Got Craft Spring Market At The Croatian Cultural Centre May 6& 7

15 Apr

Got Craft celebrates its 16th year in Vancouver as one of BC’s largest curated markets. Their Spring Market will take place on May 6th & 7th at the Croatian Cultural Centre from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  The event will feature over 95 makers, designers, creative entrepreneurs along side some kidpreneuers under the age of 16 years.  You can expect to find a variety of goods including clothing, jewellery, art, homewares, greeting cards, ceramics and much more.  There will also be a selection of food trucks on hand including NaMi Vietnamese and The Brownie Bakers.   For those early birds, the first 50 people through the door each day will receive one of their legendary swag bags.  Tickets for the event are $5 and available online, kids 12 and under are free. This is a perfect weekend to pick up something special just in time for Mother’s Day.