Calgary’s largest fall artisan market, the Festival of Crafts, returns to the BMO Centre in Stampede Park
from October 31 to November 3 with 130+ Canadian vendors under a single roof.
Organizers said the weekend affair will see artists, makers and craftspeople travelling from as far as Charlottetown and Whitehorse to bring their unique gifts, upcycled clothing, and handmade wares to Calgarians.
“Festival of Crafts is a uniquely Canadian handmade marketplace in Calgary that features the works of artists, artisans, makers, and designers from coast-to-coast. Since 1986, the show has been one of Calgary’s premier fall shopping events – an annual tradition where visitors can meet passionate creatives in person, hear their stories, and feel their works first-hand. Join us at the BMO Centre on the Stampede Grounds for an unforgettable experience and shop for handmade that lasts a lifetime.”
But like all great craft markets, the real treasures are the stories behind each handcrafted item, say organizers:
CLAIMS TO FAME
● A hat maker whose hats have appeared in London Hat Week and sat on the heads of Meghan
Markle and the cast of ‘Emily in Paris,’ to name a few! (Sherri Hrycay, Sova Design Millinery &
Apparel | BOOTH 312)
● A Dragon’s Den alum, whose finishing butter recently scored 96 in international awards (Rob
Sengotta and Landon Kroeker, Von Slick’s Finishing Touch | BOOTH 329)
PAIN, HEALING, & RESILIENCE
● A salve & soap maker who turned lived experience with endometriosis into a thriving self-care
business (Jamie Leigh Hoogendoorni, Fleurish Goods Co. | BOOTH 305)
● A lifelong asthma and migraine sufferer who created candles she can enjoy without triggering her
sensitivities (Samantha Bozinovski, Taisha Essence | BOOTH 414)
● An Airdrie knitwear artist trying to sell 1000 toques to raise money for her IVF journey (she has 585
left to go!) (Kelsey Gyarmati, KLG Knits | BOOTH 519)
● A mother devastated but inspired by the loss of her child to create jewellery keepsakes (Danielle
Robinson, Silver Soul Creations | BOOTH 425)
● Plus, artists whose personal experiences with MS, breast cancer and more have inspired their art.
MISSED (& FOUND) CONNECTIONS
● An adopted daughter and a biological mother who, though they never had the chance to meet,
unknowingly crossed paths (Megan Mackenzie Jones, Mackenzie Jones Design | BOOTH 308)
● A woman who took on a 1930s steam train in a footrace through the Prairies… and won. (Jen
Gregoire, Jen Gregoire Photography | BOOTH 316);
● A candle-maker balancing the stress of new motherhood with nursing shifts during the pandemic,
who turned to her Filipino grandmother’s scents to comfort her… and never looked back (Ellen
Joyce Santos, Farmhouse Charm Candles Inc. | BOOTH 315)
UPCYCLING, CLEAN CREATIVITY, & SUSTAINABILITY
● A sustainable fashion designer who uses hemp and old denim to make bespoke iron-on patches
and reduce his eco-footprint (Adam French, Adan Ballou | BOOTH 401)
● A Nigerian Canadian clean beauty brand that uses traditional West-African ingredients to soothe
the skin (Yoyin Familusi, Sewa Skincare | BOOTH 103)
● A Calgary-based duo who scours thrift shops for vintage silverware, trays and reclaimed wood,
upcycling them into jewellery and home décor (Katherine & Joanne White, ReDesigned | BOOTH
509)
EVENT DETAILS
Dates: October 31 – November 3, 2024
Location: BMO Centre, Stampede Park, Calgary, AB
Show Hours:
Thurs, Oct 31 (10am – 9pm) / Fri, Nov 1 (10am – 9pm) /
Sat, Nov 2 (10am – 6pm) / Sun, Nov 3 (10am – 5pm)
TICKET INFO
Tickets can be purchased online at ticketme.ca/event/calgary or at the event doors.
Pricing: Adult $8 | Senior $6
Online Presale | Save 50% Until Oct 24: Adult $4 | Senior $3
October 31 – November 1 | Get 50% off after 5pm: in person and online
Signatures Shows Ltd. is Canada’s largest and most experienced producer of fine craft shows. Founded in 1980 from an idea brought to life by two artisans, Signatures has become Canada’s largest and most experienced producer of handmade shows, producing, promoting and managing 16 events each year in 11 cities across the country.
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