From children’s treats to prawns, organic dog biscuits to mini schwartz crystal ballerinas, giant Audrey Hepburn posters to fresh beetroot juice, regardless of your desire there is a Christmas market floating around Canberra for you!
2016 Canberra Christmas market guide
Please note you can click on the titles of all these events to be taken directly to the event details.
Canberra Christmas Market
When – Saturday December 10 – Sunday December 11, 9am-3pm
Now in its fifth year, Canberra Christmas Market is a two-day market dedicated to shoppers looking for different Christmas treats and gifts not usually found in high street or shopping mall stores.
Conveniently located at Exhibition Park In Canberra, the market offers free entry and parking at all times. From Christmas trees and decorations to gingerbread houses and toys and a carolling Santa, the market is a celebration of the spirit that is Christmas.
Handmade Market
When – Saturday December 10 – Sunday December 11, 10am-4pm
The Handmade Market will showcase over 220 Australian designers and makers. All products on sale at the Handmade Market are Australian made and designed. The Handmade Market is being held at EPIC, Exhibition Park.
Murrumbateman Village Market – December 2016
When – Saturday December 10, 9am-1pm
The Murrumbateman Village Market is located 30 minutes from Canberra’s CBD, in the Canberra Wine District. Why not combine some wine tasting with the Murrumbateman Village Christmas Market this Saturday at Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds (Barton Highway). The market will be running between 9am and 1pm. There will be Santa, Christmas show bags for the kids, a jumping castle and plenty of markets to finish off your Christmas shopping. Stay for a while and enjoy a coffee, lunch or a Christmas treat on the Village Green.
Culture Shop, National Museum of Australia
When – Thursday December 15, 6pm-8pm
Get 20% off purchases* from the Museum Shop and enjoy a summer style workshop and show featuring this season’s clothing and accessories, with fashion and beauty stylist Trish Murray. The Museum Bar will be open with a cash bar and delicious food from Broadbean Catering, and the ‘Maestro of Mix’ DJ Jungle Jerry providing the beats.
Christmas At The Old Bus Depot Markets
When – Saturday December 10 & 17, Sunday December 11 & 18, 10am-4pm
Immerse yourself in everything Christmassy! The Old Bus Depot Markets are open every Saturday and Sunday before Christmas in December.
Santa Claus Lane Markets
When – Saturday December 10, 17 & 24, 10am-4pm
Each Saturday until Christmas, Canberra City Walk Markets transform to become Santa Claus Lane Markets. There will be fun and laughter at Kids Land, an arts, crafts and activities play area with ball pit, bubbles, balloon animals, and more.
You will find Australian arts & crafts, international handicrafts, fruit & vegetables, plants, books, records, novelties, up-cycled wares, candles, gemstones, funky clothing, unique jewellery, and more.
These Saturday markets are located in Petrie Plaza, behind the children’s merry-go-round.
Santa’s Winter Wonderland – Canberra Outlet Centre
When – Monday December 12 to Friday December 23, 11am-2pm
Canberra Outlet Centre will have a magical Santa’s Winter Wonderland set up between 11am – 2pm each day. Kids will have the opportunity to meet Mrs Clause and get involved in the craft activities such as making their own Christmas bauble. Every half an hour, snow will fall so kids can experience a White Christmas in the Capital! Also look out for Santa roaming around (between 10 – 24 December) or find him outside Monkey Mania, where you can get your photo taken with him and all donations go to Lifeline.
The Commons Street Feast 2016
When – Friday December 9 – Sunday December 18
The Commons Street Feast is a street food and food truck festival, held at Commonwealth Park between 9 – 18 of December. This exciting event will showcase Canberra’s food scene, with food trucks selling a huge range of international food each day, as well as the best of Canberra’s wines, beers, ciders and non-alcoholic drinks. If you don’t feel like queuing for your meal, you can always hire a butler to do all the legwork for you.
Mysterious Queanbeyan Nightmare Before Christmas Tour 2016
When – Saturday December 10
Mysterious Queanbeyan By Night Tours run spooky tours throughout the year including Halloween, Friday 13th and now before Christmas. This last tour for 2016 honours the age-old tradition of telling spooky tales upon a Christmas Eve. Join tour guide Nichole Overall for a Christmas-themed night tour of Queanbeyan and get in the ‘spirit’ of Christmas by visiting some of this historic city’s most historical – and haunted – places.
Santa’s Workshop: Christmas Activity Zone
When – Saturday December 10 – Sunday December 24
The Westfield Shopping Centre at Belconnen has Christmas activities for the kids each weekend leading up to Christmas Eve. Each Saturday there will be Story time presented by a Fairy with her Christmas Character side kick on the Target Mezzanine – with 3 sessions daily. See the Westfield Belconnen website for details
Capital Region Farmers Market / Christmas Twilight Market 2016
When – Saturday December 10 & 17, 7:30am to 11:30am + Thursday December 22, 3pm-7pm
Sample the region’s freshest produce at the Capital Region Farmers Market held 7:30 to 11:30am every Saturday at Exhibition Park in Canberra. The Market is a community project run by the Rotary Club of Hall, the only rural Rotary Club in the ACT.
The Markets will play host to a special Twilight Market on Thursday December 22, kicking off at 3pm. Come and stock up on cherries and stonefruit, prawns and seafood, hampers and all your favourite fresh produce just in time for Christmas. Avoid the crowds and long lines of the supermarkets with a visit to the Twilight Market.
Massive thanks to Visit Canberra for helping RiotACT with this information. For more inspiration on what to do this weekend or any weekend, head to their website.
Did we miss a market? Let us know below or tell us a great gift or tasty treat you found at the markets!
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