Mom Market bringing Winter Wonderland to Halifax

This weekend will see a beautiful, Winter Wonderland-themed market for event-goers in Halifax.

The Mom Market – a collective who put an emphasis on shopping local – will have 40 vendors at the Halifax Brewery Farmers Market on December 10 to spread some holiday cheer and wares.

With plenty of fun trinkets and crafts, live holiday music from Luke Collins, Blush Decor will have decorations, and a grand prize draw, the event is sure to have something for everyone.

“We did pop-up markets all year, and these wonderful night markets at the brewery are happening each Saturday this month,” said Courtney Ferguson, a vendor and Market Director for the Mom Market in Halifax.

“We had the Mistletoe Market last week, and then next week is the Santa's Little Helpers event. We have plenty in store.”

There will also be a Christmas tree up, photo opportunities for everyone, and a generally wonderful vibe. For Ferguson – who also runs Mamas and Tatas Designs – the Mom Market is about staying connected in the community.

“We love to have activities for the family and a place to shop local. People can spend the day together doing this,” she said. The collective began with two moms in Ontario, and branches have sprung up all around the country.

“Moms and small businesses are now part of it in each province across Canada,” she said. “This helps owners showcase their small businesses and get social media representation.”

Ferguson herself has found a lot of support with the collective.

After spending time out west, Ferguson and her family moved back home to Nova Scotia. She lost her job due to COVID while she was pregnant, and started her business to support her family.

“Last year, I moved back to Nova Scotia. I took over working for the Mom Market in January. We also have a branch in the South Shore, North Shore, and the Annapolis Valley. Things have grown so much,” she said.

“I love making jewelry, and through this I also got to learn about other crafters. Getting to run my small business and work for the Mom Market means I could learn more about vendors here and expand the community. I'm so blessed to be a part of this.”

She says it can be hard having a small business – especially post-COVID – and these markets allow people to sell their products and show what they have right here.

“We all know the struggles of small businesses. The time, money and energy it took to create was huge. We want people to appreciate our work, and markets like these allow people to showcase it,” she said.

“We like to get creative, keep vendors happy, and provide opportunity. There are plenty of huge corporations or big box stores people could go to, but spending your money at a hard-working small business means so much.”

Ferguson is so happy to use the Brewery Farmers Market as a venue, and it gives her a sense of nostalgia.

“I went there every Saturday as a kid. The venue has obviously changed a lot since then, but when this opportunity came up, it was the first thing I thought of,” she said.

“It's a great place and venue with an amazing vibe. The property is well taken-care of, and it doesn't look a day older than it did 10 years ago.”

She says the holidays are a season to give back, and buying local is a great way to do that.

“It just makes someone's day when you buy local. They do a little happy dance. It's such an important thing to promote community members,” she said.

The Winter Wonderland market is Saturday, December 10th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free. More information can be found online.