Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market Returns to Alberta Culture Days

Returning to this years’ Alberta Culture Days festival in Wood Buffalo will be the very popular handcrafted market organized by Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market – a unique, locally based group that organizes markets and helps incubate their member’s businesses. Etsy Made in Canada is part of Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market’s plan to help craftpreneurs expand globally. Etsy, the online marketplace that has garnered an almost cult-like following of shoppers looking for handcrafted, vintage goods, and supplies, is bringing its cross-Canada Made in Canada marketplace to Fort McMurray the weekend of Alberta Culture Days, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26^th and 27^th, at the Westwood Community High School (221 Tundra Drive) from  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The market will be placing a special emphasis on makers and suppliers this year. Etsy online shoppers will have the chance to meet, greet and shop from Wood Buffalo area sellers from as far away as Fort Chipewyan. All fees raised from table rentals will be donated to the Westwood Improv Team to help support their travelling expenses to the Edinburgh Fringe where they’ve been invited to perform.

Made in Canada is a part of Etsy’s recent initiative to take the online marketplace offline, creating the opportunity for our local sellers to connect with each other, and with buyers,” Erin Green, country manager for Etsy Canada said in a press release. “We are really proud to be supporting local Etsy sellers across the country, such as in Fort McMurray and its surrounding areas, and fostering creative collaborations and the growth of the maker movement in Canada.”

The event, which is one of 34 similar pop-up marketplaces happening across the country including events in Edmonton and Calgary, will bring together many local established and newly signed up Etsy sellers and interested shoppers for the first time. The space will also be host to a Pop-Up Art Gallery with the Art Guild, a Run for the Cure display, and youth buskers to entertain the crowds.

During the market, SWAG bags will be given to the first 10 shoppers through the door on Saturday. They’ll also be drawn for throughout the day. The gift bags will feature some Etsy goodies and gift card, samples from vendors and some items from businesses supporting the pink ribbon Run for the Cure. There will also be a draw for a gift basket of products from the vendors and the Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market at the end of the market on Sunday.

As a part of the festival Alberta Culture Days in Wood Buffalo will be having a special contest; Attend three events at three different venues and you can enter to win a pair of season tickets to Keyano Theatre’s 4-Play Drama Series. For contest details and a full listing of events, download our online booklet, www.rmwb.ca/culturedays. 

For more information on Etsy please visit Etsy.com/madeincanada,          or email fortmachandcrafted@gmail.com.                                                                                         

Fort McMurray Hand Crafted Market

Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market is now piloting outdoor markets every other Saturday through the summer at Marine Park Museum!  Join us "where steel meets keel" and find farm-fresh produce, Alberta raised meats, and ready to eat meals. You can shop local for bread, ciders and sweet delights, or treat yourself to handcrafted jewelry, local art, or bespoke clothing.  Vendors vary from date to date so there will be something new and some regulars at each market.

 The Marine Park is a 4 acre site located along the Clearwater River in Fort McMurray’s lower town site on Clearwater Drive. This is the original site of the shipyards where, after spring break up, passengers and freight destined for the north were transferred from rail to ship (or barge). Its unique history also makes it the perfect spot for a market as they are a natural occurrence anywhere trade goods are unloaded and transferred.

Joanna Torguson, President of FMHCMarket, is grateful for the partnership. “It means we don’t have to shut down over the summer and can offer a new opportunity for business growth to our member vendors.” The Museum benefits from the funds raised from space rentals and increased traffic. Funds raised helps them build their programs and rebuild Heritage Park which is still recovering from a devastating flood.

 The community can now enjoy outdoor markets twice as often as dates have been carefully selected so as not to overlap with existing farmer’s markets. There are five more markets planned for the summer: July 4^th, July 18^th, August 1^st, August 15^th, and August 29^th (which is also the date of the annual Strongman Competition).

FMHCMarket is a grassroots collective of vendors who, primarily, work together create craft shows once each month. Founded in January 2014 to showcase local artisans with cottage businesses. The vision is a handmade only market and a mechanism to help member artisans become more successful.

A big fan of collaboration and community building, Torguson designed the market as a fundraiser that pops up regularly on the first Saturday of the month, except during the summer when the school is closed. As a pop-up, the market can happen at any location hosted by any group that needs easy fundraising. Special markets may pop up anywhere and anytime!

For more information, contact:

Joanna Torguson, President

Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market

fortmachandcrafted@gmail.com

780-881-7876

Roseanne Davidson, Executive Director

Fort McMurray Historical Society

execdirector@fortmcmurrayhistory.com
(780) 791-7575

Alberta Culture Days Events at Mac Island

Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market is going to YARNBOMB MacDonald Island Park, September 26, 2pm! Okay so what is yarnbombing?

Yarnbombing, also known as yarnstorming, graffiti knitting or guerrilla knitting is the art of using handmade knitting or crochet items to create street art. It’s like graffiti art except it can be easily removed without harming public infrastructure. See for yourself how this traditional art is taking off in new ways transforming public spaces around the world, here are some pictures of Yarnbombs from Alberta and around the world we hope they inspire you. J 

For more information on yarnbombing MacDonald Island please www.http://fortmachandcrafted.com

	Community Yarnbomb, Royal Alberta Museum                  Joann Matvichuk, Lethbridge Alberta Community Yarnbomb, Royal Alberta Museum Washington DC                 Lauren O’Farrell (aka Deadly Knitshade) London, UK.