Originally published on Cortes Radio .ca

Cortes Island‘s 2018 Christmas Market Season kicked off at Gorge Hall on Saturday December 1, 2018. There were between 80 and 100 people at any given moment, but it is hard to get an aggregate number because this is also a social event where people go visit and enjoy the food.

After listening to my counts, Noah Davidson agreed that 200 is a good number.

He and Izabelle have been organizing the markets at Gorge Hall for the past three years.

Noah added that the event would not happen, “without all the people coming us decorate, and all the people who donate different baked goods … It is such a quaint friendly community.”

Irene Blueth has been coming for more than 30 years. Though the market has grown bigger, she says they have kept the spirit.

“It is really the beginning of the whole Christmas ambient feeling for me, how beautifully they decorate the hall and really get us into the spirit of the season.”

Loni Taylor, of Loni Rene Art, was one of the merchants with a booth outside the hall’s entrance.

“It was lovely to be outside, even though it as cold. We had the fire and it was a really beautiful day. The kids were really happy out here. I got to bring my dog.”

Cortes Island’s next Christmas Market will be at Mansons Hall on December 8, from 11 AM to 3 PM. However the season will flow into the Friday Markets on December 7, 14 and 21.