A craftier Christmas

Don’t say you haven’t noticed. You can say you haven’t got round to visiting one yet, but the critical mass of craft fairs and local markets across Yorkshire and beyond can’t have escaped your attention over the past year. Crafters, vintage lovers and hyperlocalists have been applying their DIY ethics to events and gatherings for some time, leaving us happy shoppers spoilt for choice with an alternative pop-up high street county-wide.

Because it’s Christmas, I’m treating you to a round-up of the fairs and events that show most promise for keeping your gifts local and your festive season mass production-free. It’s not a directory, but a sampler if you like, a starter for ten that I hope you’ll add your own listings to. Here goes.

Candy Cane Christmas Fair, Saturday 27th November, Millennium Galleries, Arundel Gate, Sheffield, 10am-4pm, free

Best of Sheffield and South Yorkshire’s craft goodness at neo-craft collective Craft Candy’s annual Christmas fair. Expect a great cross-section of contemporary crafts, attention to detail and pretty, original buys.

Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair, Sheffield, Sunday 28th November, at The Workstation (next to the Showroom), 11am-4pm, and Thursday 9th December, York, The Hospitium, Museum Gardens, Marygate, 4pm-9pm

A treasure trove of vintage delights, Judy’s fairs have been running since 2005. Promising sale rails, winter one-offs and outfits galore, events in Sheffield this Sunday and York the week after next will satisfy the more discerning vintage shoppers amongst you.

*UPDATE – now cancelled due to snow* Kelham Island Victorian Christmas market, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December, Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield S3 8RY, entry £5, £4 concessions, children free

The grandmamma of Christmas markets, Kelham Island museum are hosting their 19^th annual Christmas fair across two days. Featuring a smorgasborg of neo and traditional crafters selling their wares, this year’s theme is a Dickensian Christmas, so expect fancy dress with your fancy goods. Ice-skating, food quarter and Santa’s Grotto will have you feeling extra festive.

Reetsweet, Sunday 5th December, Leeds Corn Exchange, 11am-4pm, free

Bursting onto the neo-craft scene is Reetsweet Craft Events, who held their inaugural fair earlier this month at Leeds Corn Exchange. It was so good they’re cramming in part 2 before Christmas. The cream of Leeds and Sheffield’s neo-craft, art and design is what you’ll find.

Nether Edge Farmer’s Market, Sunday 5th December, Sheffield S7, 12pm-4pm, free

Food, glorious food as well as locally-produced gifts will be on offer in this leafy Sheffield neighbourhood’s longstanding market. Choose from over 80 stalls to help you stock up your Christmas cupboard as well as under the tree.

Christmas Fair, Saturday 18th December, Victoria Hall, Victoria Road, Saltaire BD18 3JS, 10am-4pm, entry £2, under 12s free

Organised by social enterprise-run The Stalls in Harrogate, this fair has quirky gifts on offer, ranging from photography, knitted crafts, art, jewellery and textiles and glass.

I’m all shopped out now. Anything I’ve missed?