Thousands of people got a headstart on their holiday shopping during the 33rd annual Christmas in Paris Artisan Show and Sale at the Paris Fairgrounds, which ran from Friday, November 1 to Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Throughout the event, 38 members of the Kindred Spirits Artisans of Paris were spread out between three rooms to display their various handmade holiday art and crafts.
From ornaments to garland, wreaths and cards, crochet creations, textile art and woodwork, there were plenty of items for customers to purchase in preparation for the holiday season.
Debra Vincze, Chair of Kindred Spirits and the Christmas in Paris event, said that while Friday may have had a slower start, she was pleased with how many people were coming out to support the artisans and their juried work.
“Considering the weather and the fact there’s been some construction going on down the road, our opening day was very good and we had over 900 people come through so I think we did very well,” said Vincze. “Today has really picked up and that’s nice because our artists often prepare for months in advance crafting these handmade items and so to see everyone come out, it’s just great.”
Don Pearcey, owner of Cod Fish Knives & Boards and the organization’s newest member, said he was inspired to join Kindred Spirits after visiting the holiday sale for the first time last year.
“This is my first time participating in the Christmas in Paris event and it’s just been so exciting,” said Pearcery. “One of the members here is a friend of ours, and she said, ‘you know, you should get involved in this,’ and so my wife and I decided to come check it out last year. We were just so impressed with what we saw and so we decided to join and now, here we are.”
Pearcey said he was pleasantly surprised with how well his first Christmas in Paris experience was turning out.
“It’s actually overwhelming that we’ve done so well already,” he said. “I had brought over 40 charcuterie boards with me and between opening day and today, I’ve already sold around 35 so we’ve almost sold out.”
As people continued to browse the market, many took the opportunity to pose at one of two photo stations, grab a warm apple fritter and coffee from the food trucks outside, and sign up for the chance to win a $200 shopping spree for next year’s holiday event.
While the sale not only gives local artisans a platform to sell their wares, as part of the organization’s mandate to encourage and support the creative arts, the Christmas in Paris market also works to actively give back to the community.
“The entry fee to this event is two-dollars and all of that money actually goes into bursaries that are then available for Brantford and Brant County high school graduates looking to pursue the arts,” said Vincze. “We’ve been doing that for a while now, but we always try to give back to the community whether that’s introducing people to painting at the Seniors Active Living Expo, giving money to the Paris District High School for a new kiln, or sponsoring awards for artists who exhibit at the Paris Fair, we try to do anything we can for the arts.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
