Frontenac Farmers Christmas Market

Julie Druker | Dec 16, 2015

Over 30 vendors participated at the annual Frontenac Farmers Christmas Market, now in its 10th year, which continues to draw large crowds of shoppers looking for high quality local produce, comestibles, crafts and other gift items. This year the sale was held in the gym of Prince Charles Public School in Verona and the regular market has been taking place weekly in the school's parking lot for the last two years.

Market manager/treasurer and vendor, Debbie Harris, said that the annual event continues to grow every year. Many of the regular market vendors, who sell a wide variety of products including ecologically raised meats, maple syrup, canned and jarred sweets and savories, home made perogies, baked goods and more, were there. The event also attracts vendors who specialize exclusively in Christmas wares; among them was Rebecca Peters of Rebecca's Angels and Snowflakes, an artisan who has been making crocheted angels, snowflakes and other ornaments for the last 10 years. Peters says that her business is seasonal and as a full-time mom of two young children, she crochets “whenever I can get a chance”.

Some of the new vendors included Nanny's Woodcrafts from Lombardy; Heather Buchanan of Crooked Tree Pottery of Ottawa, who makes a wide range of functional pottery; John Squair, owner of the award-winning 3 Dog Winery of Picton, who had to run out to his car during the show to replenish his stock of bottled creations; and Alison Williams of Itty Bitty Bites, who was selling her own miniature cookies, muffins and gingersnaps. Also new was Jake Hancock, a high school student and owner of NewSweater FingerBoards, which are a great gift for those who love everything to do with skateboarding.

This year was the first that market organizers partnered with the school's parent council, who held a fundraising breakfast with Santa in an adjacent classroom that same morning. For $5 families could dine on a sausage and pancake breakfast and youngsters had a chance to visit with Santa. Close to 70 diners took part and funds raised will go towards the purchase of three new pieces of playground equipment for the school.

Market organizers will be partnering up again with the parent council for their first Easter market, which will take place at the same location on the Saturday of the Easter weekend in March. After that the regular market will resume on Saturdays at the school from 9 am – 2 pm beginning on Victoria Day weekend in May.

Harris would like to thank all their long-time and new customers, who made this year's season such a success.