Just when you thought it wasn’t possible, the incredibly passionate and hard-working team of ladies behind the annual Christmas Country Fair are upping the game, yet again.
There are some events on the local calendar that you just cannot miss – and for many North Coasters (and visitors from around the country in fact), the annual Christmas Country Fair at Collisheen Estate just outside Ballito is one such event.
Hosted by the Christmas Fair Fund, this year marks the 67th annual fair, and organiser Michelle Blake says it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. With over 125 creative stall holders all locked in and ready to dazzle shoppers on 30 and 31 October, this year’s ‘fair with flair’ is even bigger than years gone by.
“Last year we added the huge marquee at the start of the fair and it worked so well that this year we are adding a second large marquee,” says Michelle.
Founded in 1952, the Christmas Fair Fund is a non-profit welfare organisation that raises funds every year to support various local projects and people in need within the community. Run entirely by volunteers, all the profits raised by the fund go directly to the projects they support, which include a number of local underprivileged schools and homes, the North Coast Courier Orphan Fund and various other charities.
From its humble beginnings as a small country fair to now one of the biggest, most upmarket and well-respected fairs in the country, the Christmas Country Fair has become a must-visit for anyone looking for uniquely created and beautifully crafted gifts and spoils. Previous years have seen more than 3000 shoppers pass through the gates over the two-day period.
Featuring all the favourite vendors from years gone by, as well as a number of exciting new ones, this year’s botanical-inspired fair will again be a shopper’s delight, jam-packed with gorgeous wares ranging from clothing and accessories to home décor pieces, gifts, stationery, kids’ items and gifts galore!
Michelle, who works tirelessly to carefully curate the right vendor mix, says there are loads of really exciting new additions to this year’s fair – all of which are proudly South African and many of which are local to the North Coast. Of course, the Christmas Fair Fund will have their own, gorgeous stand at the fair as well, where shoppers can buy all their must-have Christmas goodies, including their famous Christmas cakes and puddings!
There will also be a fantastic array of food and drinks on offer, including a gin bar, coffee roastery, harvest table and gourmet cupcakes . . . to name a few.
This year there will be golf carts and mini busses shuttling ladies from their cars to the gate and back, and the entire fair will be ‘cashless’ with vendors only accepting debit or credit cards, Zapper and Snapscan.
Tickets are R60 (kids under 12 are free), which includes tea and cake. Tickets can be bought online at quicket.co.za or at the door. The fair will be open from 9am to 5pm on both days.
Details: www.facebook.com/ChristmasFairFund / www.quicket.co.za
