The Dickens Fair

A James Bay Tradition for over 35 years

By Kate King

On December 3rd from 10am – 5pm, the James Bay Market Society will present the 36th Annual Dickens Fair. The James Bay Community Center, located at 140 Oswego Street, will come alive with two large rooms of over 70 of the Island’s most talented local artisans, a hot food café, fun children’s activities and draws for door prizes too!

For the past 35 years, the Dickens Fair has brought you a holiday shopping experience with the finest local artisans and the widest array of products in the area. The Dickens Café will be serving up muffins, freshly squeezed apple and orange juice, lunch items made from locally sourced products including vegetarian options. There will also be tea and coffee served all day to help take the chill off.

Along with our returning vendors, there will be many new vendors who will be showcasing their talents. The variety of new products, the quality of workmanship, and the care that goes into their creations are sure to impress the most discerning of shoppers.

Create a wonderful holiday meal with fresh Whole Roasting Ducks from Carmenia Farm and to accompany your favorite dishes. Sun Song Foods offers a variety of Chutneys and Specialty Sauces. For that extra special touch to your appetizer plates, try flavorful Cashew Spreads from Not Cheese, perfect toppers for crackers along with various nuts gift packages. You can pair your meal with one of Rocky Creek’s award winning wines. From Reds to Rosés, to Whites and Special Harvest Blends, you are sure to find the perfect complement!

You will find functional tableware from casserole dishes to salt and pepper shakers. Gord Reisig makes completely food safe, high-fired pottery fit for your holiday table. To add ambiance and warmth to your evenings, Christine Cosack creates a variety of Beeswax, Soy and Palm Wax candles and Forge Craft Designs will “wow” you with their Handcrafted Metal-Work, Beautiful Jewelry, Ornaments, Candle Holders, Knives, Cutting Boards and even Custom Banjos!

Fabulous Fabric Designs by Magnolia Cottage Crafts feature festive hand-sewn wine bags, gift bags, pillows, tea cozies, table runners, placemats, and more. We also have wonderful up-cycled baby and children’s clothing complete with accessories by Jamin Creations.

Canadian Beaver works creates quality handcrafted wooden puzzle boxes; some even have a puzzle inside of a puzzle! Junior Carpenter will have children’s woodworking kits in a variety of types. You can build a birdhouse, bird feeder, logging trucks and even locomotives, sure to stimulate the “junior carpenter” in your child.

This is what else you can expect to find among our many treasures:

• Beautiful Hand Knitted Items and Clothing, Incredible Hand-sewn Dolls and adorable figurines and Gifts for Fido from Cookies to Bedding
• Intricately Designed Jewelry from Earrings to Pendants and More, Body Care Products and Handbags
• Hand-blown Decorative Glassworks, Brilliantly Crafted Ornaments, Wind Chimes, Stone Vessels and Candleholders
• Attractive Art prints and Calendars, Wooden Puzzle Boxes and Carving Boards
• Delicious Foods including Farm Fresh Beef, Duck, Pate’s, Spreads, Jams, Chutneys, Maple Syrup, Soup Mixes, Flavored Vinegars and Relishes, Specialty Candies and Fudge

Bring the whole family! The kids will have fun in the children’s area where they can create a one-of-a-kind treasure of their own. We have Marilyn the “Chicken Lady” who will be introducing us to her incredible feathered friends that are always a big hit with kids of all ages. Brazen Face Painting will embellish the young and “young at heart” with adorable unicorns, ferocious tigers, ladybugs or whatever your heart desires! A Special thank-you to Mark Imhoff of Coldwell Banker’s Realty James Bay for funding  the Face Painter and the Chicken Lady! 

The James Bay Community School PAC committee will be coordinating the craft area and cookie decorating station that is popular with children and adults alike. There is also a giant Lego table that is a Dickens Fair favorite. The PAC will also have a booth in the Fair and all proceeds will go toward enhancing the school library.

There will be an ATM on site for your shopping convenience. The Dickens Fair is a wonderful way to spend the day with family and friends. Come on out and make the 36 Annual Dickens Fair your family holiday tradition.

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2016 10am – 5 pm
Location: James Bay Community Center – 140 Oswego Street
Admission: $2 - Children under 12 free.

Another annual holiday favorite is the 4^th Annual Ogden Point Light Up. A fun family event in support of the Mustard Seed Food Bank is planned. Enjoy a late afternoon filled with lots of holiday activities for the whole family. Stay until dusk and watch Ogden Point and the Truck Parade as they light up your evening with thousands of Xmas lights! Festivities will take place at the Pier A Warehouse by the Breakwater.