THIS year, the Christmas market in Ballyvaughan Community Hall will run on two weekends before Christmas, this Saturday and Sunday as well as the following Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20.
As well as many familiar faces from the Ballyvaughan Farmers’ Market, a number of other food producers from North Clare will take part in the Christmas events, offering an unrivalled variety of quality food produce, much of it with a festive theme.
Among the products available will be seasonal vegetables and fruit, traditional home baking including breads, cakes, biscuits and confectionary, locally produced cheeses, honey and fruit wines, handmade preserves such as jellies, pickles, chutneys, flavoured oils, jams and sauces, quality olive oil, wines, food hampers, along with mistletoe and plants and flowers for both inside and outside the house specially suited to the winter season.
There will also be a wide selection of meats and fish available each day.
Alongside the food produce will be a varied selection of crafts from local traders. For Christmas gift hunters, there will be a selection of quality local arts and crafts, which will vary over the four days. There will be goat milk soaps, hand-felted and hand-painted silk, wearable designer art, hand-knitted Aran sweaters, hats, scarves and gloves, beaded fashion jewellery, wood turned quality products, fleece blankets, aromatherapy candles, aromatherapy oils, pottery and ceramics, painted glass ornaments, Fair Trade imports, copper and stained glass clocks, botanical paintings, greetings and personal cards, photography, leather items, Irish handmade dolls, crochetwork, silver and gold jewellery, patchwork and Christmas decorations.
A Christmas Café will be sited inside the community hall to offer a selection of hot food and drinks each day to consume in the market while soaking up the festive atmosphere. There will be mulled wine, tea, coffee, soup, burgers and other sweet and savoury treats available.
On each of the days, the Ballyvaughan Christmas Market will start at 11am and finish at 5pm.