Feb
1
Submitted by the Dickens Fair Committee
The Dickens Fair committee would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all who participated in this year’s Dickens Fair. With a record-breaking number of people through the door, the majority from the James Bay area, the day was brimming with smiles and holiday cheer.
We are so grateful to all of the businesses who helped make our day one to remember: The Robert Bateman Centre and II Covo Restaurant for our amazing door prizes, Mark Imhoff Realty for the Balloon Twister which was a great hit with the children and adults alike! Superior Pizza for feeding our volunteers, and the Heron Rock Bistro for running our Dickens Cafe. Special thanks to the James Bay Community School PAC for running the children’s craft area and to the James Bay Community Centre for their tireless assistance and support.
The Dickens Fair is a wonderful community event for people of all ages. Since the fair’s beginnings in the late 1970s, this event has grown in popularity and size. With over 70 local artisan vendors with wares ranging from handcrafted driftwood cribbage boards to wonderful specialty food items, the Dickens Fair offers a diverse array of quality products for a unique and enjoyable shopping experience.
Keeping it local is our mission. You can find all kinds of great buys on store shelves, but when you see the amazing craftsmanship and talent of your neighbouring artisans, combined with the ability to talk “face to face” with them, it becomes a much more enriching experience. Each year the Dickens Fair has returning vendors showcasing customer favourites along with many new vendors from the local area. From quality hand-knit clothing and handcrafted jewelry to all natural body products to delicious home baked goods, the Dickens Fair has something for everyone.
Keeping community at the forefront, the fair is always family friendly. The Children’s Craft Area was a big hit with a giant Lego table and a cookie decorating station run by the James Bay Community School PAC. Our balloon twister created fun and whimsical balloon animals, while adorable pet chickens put smiles on the faces of both young and young at heart. The James Bay Market Society, the host and organizer of the event, has as its main goal to showcase local artisans and provide a great James Bay Neighbourhood event. We hope those of you who attended had a wonderful day, meeting your friends and neighbours and browsing through the wares of our vendors.
We received a great number of compliments from the customers. They loved the friendly atmosphere, the excellent service, and the quality and craftsmanship of the products on the showroom floor. Although the weather was not on our side, the community came out in record numbers to support the James Bay Market Society and the Dickens Fair Vendors. We hope to be back bigger and better in 2016 and are so thankful for all of the community support we receive each year.