Saturday Nov 19th (10am to 4pm) Sunday Nov 20th (10am to 4pm)
Top floor of the Filberg Centre
{ behind the Sid Williams Theatre at 5th St. and Cliffe Ave }
FIESTA has been bringing the treasures of the world to the Comox Valley for 30 years. This November 19th and 20th, from 10 am to 4 pm each day, vendors will once again transform the Filberg Center into the exotic bazaars of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.
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.
Three stores are coming to FIESTA! 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 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 will be serving up scrumptious vegan wraps and much more, and Andrew will be there with his White Caps coffee, tea and hot chocolate truck, and he is bringing cookies!
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!
 All African Fair Trade Society products use the highest quality raw unrefined Shea Butter. Our products are produced in an environmentally sensitive manner without being tested on animals. |
 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. |
 Glacier Granny products are made locally in the Comox Valley by women supporting African grandmothers and their orphaned grandchildren in 15 Sub-Saharan countries affected by HIV and AIDS and now Covid19. We are part of the Grandmother |
 Global Village Nanaimo (GVN) is an independent, non-profit society selling fair trade goods in the Central Vancouver Island region. The society is run by a volunteer board and supported by volunteer salespeople. |
 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: To create opportunities and empower ARTISANS in developing countries around the world...to promote FAIR TRADE. |
 Resilient Generations is a social enterprise that provides services and products that support business development primarily for youth in Africa through partnerships in Canada. |
 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 - Peru (SBC) works to ensure the conservation of the Spectacled bear in the dry forest habitat of northern Peru through scientific research and education, while working collaboratively with private land owner |