Saturday Nov 18th (10am to 4pm) Sunday Nov 19th (10am to 4pm)
Top floor of the Filberg Centre
{ behind the Sid Williams Theatre at 5th St. and Cliffe Ave }
Fiesta World Craft Fair is on November 18 and 19, 2023. Once again, we'll be on two floors at the Florence Filberg Centre in Downtown Courtenay. #savethedates!
FIESTA has been bringing the treasures of the world to the Comox Valley for 31 years.
One thing that you may notice is how green FIESTA is, at a time when we are definitely looking for alternatives. The majority of the artisans operate out of their homes and small workshops. They are able to practice their craft in harmony with the environment in safe working conditions and the women can often have their young ones close and they can work part time. 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 much more! The people most affected by our world climate crisis are the marginalized of the world, those who have done almost nothing to cause our disastrous global warming. These are the people who you will be supporting when you shop at FIESTA. That is why FIESTA is such a win-win experience!
Some of our vendors are fair trade businesses that have their own stores and others are managed by volunteers. These resourceful, committed and caring folks are giving the people at the bottom a hand up, giving them dignity not charity! You can make a big difference to the village of Chuk Muk in Guatemala by buying an alternative Christmas gift. Aldea Maya works with students and provides school fees, computers and a homework center, lessons in gardening, cooking and hygiene. If you give a donation in someone’s name you will receive a homemade card to give that explains what your donation will be used for.
Four stores are coming to FIESTA! We are excited to welcome back Ten Thousand Villages from Abbotsford, Mondo and Company from Ganges on Saltspring Island, Mystic Lotus from Parksville and Global Village Nanaimo. They are all passionate about sourcing unique designs and quality handcrafted products; covering home decor, clothing, bath and body, ornaments, and food items, from over 30 countries.
Linda of Batiqua will bring delightfully designed textiles from her native Zimbabwe. Manzoor will be selling carpets and colourful abstract pillow covers. Gillian and Pippa Smart will be selling the most exquisite sisal and wire baskets from their native South Africa. There will be over 30 vendors sharing with you their connection to men and women and children who live in villages and cities and they would like you to hear the stories and make a purchase that will make a difference!
There will be 3 food trucks in front of the Filberg. The sisters, Lorena and Janette, will be making their delicious pupusas, a traditional food from their native El Salvador. Amy at The Munch Room will be serving up scrumptious vegan wraps and much more, and Sean of Caffe Verde will also have vegan paninis, drinks and coffee!
Fair trade is good for people and our Mother Earth! So bring your list, there is something for your Auntie May and the kids and yourself! FIESTA is light on the land, a warm breeze of positive energy at a time when we could all do with a hug!
 We sell all African skin care products (shea butter, African Black soap). We also have a baobab oil that is our latest selection. We sell shea butter, soaps, lotions, shampoos, and more. |
 For 10 years Aldea Maya has been selling Christmas cards designed by Vancouver Island students. These cards help us to fund our projects in Chuk Muk, Guatemala. |
 Batiqua is a fairtrade company specialised in the design and distribution of handcrafted textiles for home decor, proudly made in Harare, Zimbabwe. |
 The Comox Valley Conservation Calendar showcases photographs of local wildlife and iconic natural areas. Each month profiles one of the Valley’s stewardship groups working to protect and restore our watersheds and natural areas. |
 Didi Bahini is an importer and seller of beautiful handcrafted products from Nepal. |
 Eco Mama’s Global Community Gardens is a conscious, grassroots not for profit organization selling Ugandan baskets and textiles. |
 Gathering Place is our family business on Cortes Island, BC. We source organic teas, spices, sea salt and dried fruit directly from family farms and co-operatives in Canada and around the world. |
 Glacier Grannies sew and make beautiful textile products such as african angels, microwave cosies, aprons, dresses and eco-wraps. |
 Global Village Nanaimo sells fair trade goods such baskets from Ghana, Vietnam and Bangladesh as well as scarves, gloves, jewelry, household items, soaps, spices and much more! We also carry New Internationalist calendars and books. |
 Indiarts Collective offers unique, quality and ethnic handmade bags, accessories and jewelry that support and share South American artisans’ work and spreads awareness of each product’s history and significance. |
 With a generous donation; scarves, shawls, yoga bags and other goods were purchased in Nepal supporting Women’s Skills Development, a Children’s home and Helping Hands - Deaf and blind weavers. |
 L'ArcheWorx Collective offers fun and eco-friendly recycled wax candles, beeswax Advent candles and taper pairs, delicious soup cones in two sizes, art cards, calendars and canvas prints. |
 Our mission is to create opportunities and empower ARTISANS in developing countries around the world...to promote FAIR TRADE and to continue to source and develop products that are unique and HANDCRAFTED. |
 We offer a unique selection of garments, crafts, soft furnishings and collectibles. We spend several months each year in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Korea and Nepal to personally hand select each one of our goods. |
 Resilient Generations supports the economic and psychological development of children, youth, and women through services and the sale of products such as jewelry, scarves and other accessories. |
 Simzi Crafts is a family enterprise, supporting rural women weavers making traditional Zulu ilala palm baskets in South Africa; as well as town-dwelling artisans who make contemporary hand-woven telephone wire baskets. |
 Spectacled Bear Conservation Socierty (SBC) support artisans who make adorable felted animals. |
 The Nicaragua Children's Foundation has decided to provide further support to our projects through the sale of pottery. All of our pottery comes from the small village of San Juan de Oriente in southwestern Nicaragua. |