According to my copy of Beginner Retail Ethics For The Holidays, one can start with the Christmas stuff when the pumpkins start to rot (you should see my front deck right now. I have half a dozen orange lumps bleeding all over the place). Anyway, as we all know, Christmas isn’t all about the giving and the reindeer and the Baby Jesus. It’s also about the rushing and the pushing and buying of things made far, far away that do nothing for the creatives in our local economy. Which brings me to the Circle Craft Christmas Market that goes down November 9th to the 13th at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. It’s the antithesis, and it’s pretty awesome. The crib notes:

Vancouver’s Circle Craft Christmas Market has been a local tradition since 1973. For 37 years, generations of Vancouverites, British Columbians, as well as tourists from near and far have been enjoying the Market where they come face to face with fine BC and Canadian artisans and their work: wood turners, glass blowers, sculptors and potters, clothing and jewellery designers, toy makers, leather and metal workers, and more. In addition, food vendors, entertainment by local dance groups, craft technique demonstrations, and other crafty activities, round out the experience!

The really cool thing? 282 vendors! The other, really, really cool thing? We have a double pass to give away. As soon as this post appears in the stream on our Facebook page (automatic, usually within 10 minutes), be the first to write the words “I’m buying local” in the comment thread underneath it and they’re yours. If you’re too late, you can always snag your tickets here.