Scotland's Best Christmas Markets 2019

16 Nov

Spot Design Market: Winter Edit @ Queens Park Bowling Green, Glasgow, 11am-4pm
Run by Anna Hepburn and Sarah Henderson of Squid Ink, you know you’re in good hands at Spot Design Market. Following the success of their inaugural market in summer, the pair are bringing it back for a Winter edition. Sellers include Emer Tumilty, Algae Studio and Flowers Vermillion, as well as food served by Glasgow Supper Club – between 12-3pm – and local charity Refuweegee will be collecting toiletries for their Toilet Bag Appeal.

23-24 Nov

Out of the Blue Xmas Arts Markets @ Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh, 23 Nov (also 7 & 14 Dec), 11am-5pm, £1-2
More than 150 artists and makers, selling everything from paintings to furniture, will participate in the three Christmas markets taking place at Out of the Blue in November and December. The third and final market will also include an Xmas Bruncheon with live music from 11.30am-2.30pm, if you’re looking to add some extra entertainment to your Christmas shopping.

Festive Design Market @ V&A, Dundee, 23-24 Nov, 10am-5pm
Pop-up events team Tea Green have curated this design market, featuring work from nearly 60 of Scotland’s best independent designers, such as HAME, Isolated Heroes and Kate Trouw. Combine it with a visit to one or both of the museum’s current exhibition – Studio Nicholas Daley and Hello, Robot. – and you’ll be supporting Scotland’s arts scene in more ways than one.

[Image: DCA Crafted Christmas Craft and Design Market by Erika Stevenson]

30 Nov-1 Dec

Crafted Christmas Market @ DCA, Dundee, 30 Nov, 11.30am-5.30pm
As we enter one of the busiest weekends of the festive period (it’s the final pay day weekend before Christmas), we also enter the busiest weekend for Christmas markets. One of our two Dundee picks this weekend is DCA’s Crafted Christmas Market. Taking place across two floors in the venue, where over 30 independent designers and makers will be selling their works.

Jupiter Artland Christmas Fair @ Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh, 30 Nov-1 Dec, 11am-4pm, £5-9
If you’re looking for a proper Christmas day out for all the family, look no further than Jupiter Artland’s Christmas Fair. Yes, it’s not an ideal location and yes, it costs more than your average Christmas market, but this is a full-blown Christmas extravaganza. As well as the usual stall holders selling their wares, there will also be donkeys (real), elves (fake), Santa’s Grotto (debatable) and a variety of food vendors.

Etsy Made Local @ The Briggait, Glasgow, 30 Nov-1 Dec, 11am-4.30pm
For those who might not know, Etsy is a global online retailer where independent businesses can set up an online shop and sell their work. Etsy Made Local is brought to you by the Glasgow Etsy Team, who have put together a line-up of 68 different sellers on each of the market’s two days to showcase the best of Scotland’s creative community.

Winter Fayre @ Verdant Works, Dundee, 30 Nov-1 Dec, 11am-4pm
Celebrate Scotland’s history and shop at the same time at Verdant Works’ Winter Fayre. Taking place in a refurbished jute mill, the fayre will host a variety of artists and designers over two days, celebrating the work of independent Scottish creatives. Mulled wine and mince pies also available.

Trading Post @ Custom Lane, Edinburgh, 1 Dec, 11am-5pm, £0-2
Custom Lane team up with Christmas connoisseurs Rogue Village – creators of Hobo Cinema, A Christmas Fairy Trail and Canteen Street Food Festival – for the inaugural Trading Post market. The full line-up of sellers is yet to be announced but you can expect to find works by some of the most exciting independent designers, retailers and producers in Scotland.

[Image: Summerhall Christmas Market by Cat Thomson]

8 Dec

Summerhall's Christmas Market @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 11am-5pm
A staple on Scotland’s Christmas market calendar (and there is a full calendar; we’re barely scraping the surface here), Summerhall’s Christmas Market is a must for Edinburgh’s Christmas shoppers. Why would you waste your time traipsing around Princes Street when you could be indoors shopping local and enjoying food supplied by Face Plant Foods, The Royal Dick and more to be announced. Oh, and a hot toddie to wash it all down.

14-15 Dec

Super Market Christmas @ Tramway & The Hidden Gardens, Glasgow, 14-15 Dec, times vary
There are earlier editions of Super Market’s Christmas markets taking place at The Engine Works on 1 December and The Art School on 7 December, but the Tramway edition looks set to be particularly special. Taking place inside the venue and making use of its outdoor Hidden Gardens, the market is sure to get you in the festive spirit, and with just over a week to go until Christmas it would be about time you got into the spirit!