It’s been a standing a joke for a few months now. Considering all that has gone wrong this year … would Christmas be cancelled? Well, we had a little chat to Santa and we can categorically say that it is still on! Oh, and so is our very favourite Christmas Country Fair!
It might be a few months late, but one of the North Coast’s most beloved traditions, the annual Christmas Country Fair, is set to take place at Collisheen Estate once more. The fair is going to be held over three days this year, from 2 to 4 December, 9am to 5.30pm daily.
Run by the dedicated team of volunteers at the Christmas Fair Fund, which has been going for more than 65 years, the fair is always a highly-anticipated fixture on the calendar and is known for its huge offering of high quality, handcrafted gifts.
Convenor Michelle Blake says, “It was touch-and-go at one stage and we all thought Christmas would be a non-event this year, but this is certainly not the case. It’s with huge excitement that we confirm the dates for this year’s fair.”
RESILIENCE AND CREATIVITY
This year the organisers have aptly chosen ‘resilience’ as the theme for the fair. “This is a quality we as South Africans have in large doses and can best be described in the word ‘ubuntu’, which means, ‘I am who I am because of who we all are’. This is the heartbeat behind the Christmas Fair Fund – together making a difference in our North Coast community in need.”
Michelle says the Christmas Fair team have been inundated with requests for stalls by new creatives looking for a space to showcase their designs and products. “If there is anything positive to take out of Covid-19, it’s this: lockdown cleared space for creative thinking and follow through – the results of which we are so looking forward to showcasing at this year’s fair.”
As always, the Christmas Fair ladies are hard at work creating a beautiful range of Christmas accessories and gifting items, as well as baking up a storm to sell their popular Christmas cakes and puddings – all of which will be available on the Christmas Fair stand.
ON TREND THIS CHRISTMAS
As they are Christmas ‘specialists’ and always keeping their eyes on local trends and colour forecasts, we thought we’d ask the Christmas Fair Fund ladies to share their thoughts on this year’s Christmas trends.
“We always keep an eye on global and local trends, focusing on colour pantones and trends within design, homes, gifting and the fashion world – as well as annual Christmas trends,” says Michelle.
“We usually visit fairs, markets and design shows around the country to keep us up to date, but this year has been a little different with everything being cancelled. What we have found though, is that a response to the effects of this pandemic has been a desire not only for self-expression, but a strong need for hope, stability and well-being in a world overflowing with turmoil.”Because of this, Michelle says, the trend of recreating, recycling and upcycling has exploded. “Our team have fully embraced the trend for handmade repurposed and sustainable gifting and our Christmas Fair ladies are stitching, preserving and baking up a storm!”
In terms of colour, Michelle says the team were gifted with off cuts of fabric and natural fibres in hues like saffron, ‘lush lava’, white, blue and various shades of green to work with – but they are still bringing in hints of the traditional red associated with this time of year in their décor range. “We are making a range of wreaths to compliment your Christmas Décor and Scandinavian-inspired Christmas tree décor and accessories that can be added to traditional trees, or used to create an elegant, contemporary tree from branches in your garden.”
BOOK YOUR TICKETS
Tickets for the fair are available online only and the price is R55 per person. Numbers have been limited per day to abide by Covid-19 protocols (which is why the fair is extending trading from two to three days). Vistors can look forward to 100 stall holders and a bigger food and beverage set up! As per last year, for everyone’s safety, this is a cashless event and only cards and Zapper will be accepted.
Details: Buy your tickets at www.Quicket.co.za
Text: Leah Shone
