The holiday season is a time for gift-giving, and there’s no better way to shop for presents than to buy locally from small businesses and artisans. Vancouver, Washington has a talented community of artists and craftspeople that exhibit their wares at a number of local holiday bazaars. Here’s a list of some of our favorites:
Battle Ground Holiday Bazaar
Location: Battle Ground Community Center, Battle Ground WA
When Is It? Early November
Website: https://www.cityofbg.org/935/Holiday-Bazaar
This annual bazaar is hosted by the City of Battle Ground, at the Battle Ground Community Center. It’s free to attend and features handcrafted items created by local vendors.
Ladybug Bazaar
Location: Battle Ground High School, Battle Ground WA
When Is It? Early November
Website: https://www.gfwc-battlegroundwa.org/what-we-do/ladybug-bazaar.html
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs chapter in Battle Ground hosts this annual bazaar. You can find it at the gyms on the grounds of Battle Ground High School in downtown Battle Ground. This is a huge bazaar with over 190 vendor spaces and thousands of shoppers attending annually. This market excludes commercial vendors and insists that all wares be handcrafted by local artisans from Clark County. This ensures that you’ll find some truly unique and special items when shopping for gifts. The Ladybug Bazaar has been going on since 1967, so it has a rich history of supporting local artists and providing a delightful shopping experience for Clark County residents. Admission is free, but the GFWC suggests a donation of canned goods to support their charitable efforts toward the North County Community Food Bank.
Mountain View Holiday Bazaar
Location: Mountain View High School, Vancouver WA
When Is It? Mid November
Website: http://www.mvband.org/holiday-bazaar.html
The Mountain View High School Instrumental Music Boosters have hosted this Holiday Bazaar since 1983 at the Mountain View High School in Vancouver. This market boasts over 200 vendor tables with crafts, art, holiday décor, baked goods, and more. This long-running market is a fundraiser for the Mountain View High School Band, so you can support youth musicians as well as get your holiday shopping done!
Prairie High School Bands’ Yuletide Bazaar
Location: Prairie High School, Vancouver, WA
When Is It? Yearly on the Saturday after Thanksgiving
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Prairie-High-School-Bands-Yuletide-Bazaar-100057599253053/
The Prairie High School Bands’ Yuletide Bazaar is another holiday market that supports young musicians. This bazaar is held every year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving at the Prairie High School campus. This event claims to be one of the oldest and largest holiday bazaars in Clark County. Over 200 vendors are expected to attend, selling handcrafted items like jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, and art. There is no admission fee for the event, but a donation of food for the North County Community Food Bank is appreciated.
Holiday Markets at Vancouver Farmers Market
Location: Slocum House, 605 Esther St., Vancouver, WA
When Is It? Fridays and Saturdays, Early December
Website: https://www.facebook.com/vancouverfarmersmarket/
The Vancouver Farmer’s Market is one of our favorite markets for local producers. During December they open it up to craftspeople and artisans to sell their wares at the Slocum House. Check it out on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings in December to get some local crafts to put under your tree. One Saturday a month, they host a special market where kids can sell their own handmade and homegrown products.
Conclusion
Buying at local holiday bazaars and artisan fairs is a great way to support your community and find some unique gifts. Market hours and dates vary each year, so be sure to check out each market’s website to get details on the event for the year. Have fun shopping, and we’ll see you there!