The Gibsons Public Market hosted its annual Holiday Market Faire on Dec. 8, drawing over 850 visitors to the one-day seasonal market. Building on the success of their summer Night Market, the Public Market team created a day full of family-friendly holiday-themed activities to complement the goods on sale from local artisans and makers. Visitors were able to shop from 30 local businesses ranging from handmade local clothing to a new line of hot sauces from Smoke on the Water BBQ Shack to locally authored children’s books.
Perhaps most notably, the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre hosted a first-ever visit from Scuba Claus. Santa spent just over two hours submerged in the Craftsman Collision Salish Seascape tank posing for photos with visitors of all ages. It is rumoured Santa had so much fun, he’s already booked his 2019 appearance at the Holiday Market Faire, agreeing to even more time in the tank next year.
Visitors who had their photo taken with Santa and are interested in obtaining a copy of the picture can visit the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nsmec). By Friday Dec. 14 an album called Scuba Claus will be posted to the page, and visitors are encouraged to download and share their shots.
Events and community development manager Jenn McRae said she was heartened by the community’s turnout for the day, the success enjoyed by the vendors and Market merchants, and is excited to continue to build seasonal traditions at the Public Market for all generations of the Coast to enjoy together.
– Submitted
