The Christmas season is kicking up already and what better way to check things off your list than making a stop at one Estevan's final farmers' markets of the season.
The market will be prepped and open for four final outings beginning next Saturday in the Estevan Exhibition Hall. That's the day after Black Friday, a holiday shopping bonanza in the United States.
Market organizer Linda Jones expects the first day will be a smaller affair, with about 20 vendors, but it will pick up quickly in the other three weeks with more than 30.
"As it goes along, it gets busier," she said. "More people get in the mood."
A lot of the vendors who has been with the market all summer long will show up with their Christmas line of goods. Jones noted that the people who bring in crafts and the bakers, in particular, bring in the holiday goods.
Jones has been attending the market for more than 30 years, and as far back as she can remember there have always been markets leading up to Christmas. Now she said there are some vendors who come from Carievale, Weyburn and Regina.
She said in many cases she contacts vendors from outside the surrounding area to see if they'd like to participate in the markets, but because it's been going so long, most of those people are very now aware of the opportunities to set up shop in Estevan on the Saturdays leading up to Christmas. Those people have been spreading the word to others they know, and those word-of-mouth notices have meant that the local market keeps pretty full for the Christmas season sittings.
And locally, people have been very supportive of the market.
"The last couple of years (attendance) has really increased. We've been doing a lot more advertising in recent years."
Jones said the local attendees have been very faithful to the market.
"The people of Estevan really support us. They come out unbelievably well in the summer, and then they always come back for the winter ones as well," she said.
Whether you're looking for baked goods, Christmas ornaments or a unique gift, there are lots of reasons to continue or begin to support the Christmas farmers' market.
The market is open in the Exhibition Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting Nov. 26, with dates following on Dec. 3, 10 and 17.
