Get your gift on at South African Christmas Markets
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Shops are playing Michael Buble, Josh Groban and the Pentatonix – a welcome change from Boney M – and mounds of tinsel wink at passersby to subtly remind them of those gifts they still need to buy. Happy jingles, however, cannot help you decide on the best gift for that special person in your life.
That is why we tend to turn to the creatives in our country, those people who not only envision and create a beautiful gift, but they also make more than they need and sell it to the giftingly challenged. Thank heavens for Christmas Markets!
Every year, thousands of innovators produce unique and beautiful gifts from homemade jams and rusks to beautifully sculpted angels, jewellery and clothing. Handmade instead of mass manufactured, distinctive instead of one size fits all and personalized instead of “practically everyone has one”.
This year is no exception. Christmas markets have become so popular that they even cater for those obsessives who need to have their shopping done, dusted and wrapped before the clock strikes 1 December. The early birds could jump on the gift getting bandwagon as early as October, but for those who have focussed on being ‘good’ for Santa and piling pressure on December to get things done, there is still a wonderful array of gift markets to peruse for that perfect ‘handmade’ gift.
It’s the season to be jolly and already mall parking lots in summer holiday destinations are being filled with holidaymakers ready to spend. Support local creativity and bypass the queues and put a stopper on frustration. It’s your holiday. It was hard-earned. Find your way to a Christmas Market near you. And breathe.
Here are a few Christmas Markets to get you excited:
2 Des – 8 Jan – Holiday Market – Hartenbos
5 – 21 Dec – Outeniqua Christmas Market – George
9 – 22 Dec – Ek Lief Krismis Christmas Market – Eden Community – George
13 – 22 Dec – Jeffries Bay Christmas Market – Jeffries Bay
13 – 24 Dec – Stilbaai Christmas Market – Stilbaai
17 & 21 Dec – Hartenbos Evening Market – Hartenbos
19 – 23 Des – Boerevintage Gift Market – George
27 Des – 9 Jan – Craft expo @ Langebaan – Langebaan
29 Nov – 20 Dec – Stonehaven on Vaal Christmas Market – Vanderbijlpark
11-20 Dec – Emperor’s Christmas Market – Emperor’s Palace
4-20 Dec – Edgemear Christmas Market – Edgemead Community Hall
7-22 Dec – Pinelands Christmas Market – Pinelands High
11-16 Dec – Kommetjie Fab Ideas Christmas Market – Kommetjie Community Hall
11-12 Dec – Gabrielskloof Estate Favourite Things Market – Gabrielskloof, Overberg
15-19 Dec – Blaawklippen Twilight Christmas Market – Blaawklippen, Stellenbosch
4 Dec – 9 Jan – Uvongo Christmas Market – Uvongo
12 & 19 Dec – I heart Christmas Market – Moses Mabida Soccer Stadium
15-19 Dec – KZN Christmas Market Festival – Greenmeadow Lane, Hillcrest, KZN
16 Dec – Shongweni Farmer’s & Craft Christmas Market – Alverston Rd, Shongweni
16-23 Dec – Ballito Christmas Market – Burnedale Farm, Umhlali
Find More Events on our EVENTS CALENDER.