Fiesta World Craft Bazaar is 27 years old and as globally colourful and amazing as ever.
On Nov. 16 and 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. you will have the opportunity to shop the world, finding unique handmade gifts for your home, your family, and yourself.
With 50 vendors and 120 tables, the selection is varied and the quality is superb. We have new vendors from four different countries and because the world needs them we have a wonderful selection of beautiful and meaningful posters, cards and bumper stickers.
You will also be able to provide your family and friends with alternative gifts. Aldea Maya works with youth and children in Chuk Muk Guatemala, Little Ray of Hope works in Kenya and The Widow’s Garden Project is in Uganda.When you give a donation you receive a card to give to someone as a gift in their name.
Three stores will be coming to town.
Mondo Trading from Ganges on Saltspring Island, Mystic Lotus from Parksville and Global Village Nanaimo are passionate about sourcing unique designs and handcrafted products covering home decor, clothing, bath and body, toys and food from more than 30 countries around the world.
Spend some time talking to the vendors, who could be immigrants or volunteers working with Indigenous women and men in rural villages or the slums of large cities. Linda of Batiqua brings you delightfully designed textiles for your home from her native country of Zimbabwe. Lynda Drury has been working with women in Cambodia to bring you high end silk scarves and bags.
This year we are excited to have Valentina Pinzon bringing us the striking Wayuu bags from Northern Colombia. Julio Cochoy is visiting from Guatemala and will be bringing exquisite jewellery and wood carvings. Mosqoy will be a highlight, woven products from the villages of the Peruvian Andes. Jackie Kasandy is coming with quality leather Kenyan bags from her Vancouver shop.
As always, Fiesta is also concerned about our local community. Habitat for Humanity is building houses, Kus Kus Sum is unpaving paradise, and the Beaufort Association, L’Arche and the CRA Art Cards program have attractive cards and candles, tasty soups and pet snacks.
Local artists with Artsphere will be selling Santas to support the Valley Care-A-Van, and volunteers have created special tree ornaments to fund the Comox Valley Food Bank.
When you are wandering from country to country upstairs and downstairs at the Filberg Center you will notice that Fiesta is very green. The majority of artisans whose crafts and wares are sold at Fiesta operate out of their homes or small workshops. They are able to practice their craft in harmony with the environment in safe working conditions using natural materials.
The artisans are also very innovative in reclaiming, re-valuing and recycling materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, such as coconut shells, cow horns, magazines, glass, pop cans, metal parts, and so much more. The people most affected by our world climate crisis are marginalized, and those are the craftspeople who you are supporting at Fiesta.
The restaurant will be serving up Younis’ delicious falafel donairs, Mintra will be making her tasty Thai salad rolls, Janette is cooking up her comforting curry butternut squash soup and yes the Datt family will be selling their very popular samosas and pakoras.
The Comox Valley Land Trust will sweeten you up with decadent desserts and beverages, including Chai Indian tea.
For more information, visit www.fiestafairtradefair.ca and the Facebook page.
