The Christmas season kicks off this weekend with a special community market showcasing local makers and artists.
Eastern Community Hub has invited the Geelong community to celebrate the festive season at its annual Community Christmas Market from 9am to 3pm on Saturday 6 December.
The market will feature nearly 40 stalls filled with the products and crafts of local artists and artisans, activities for kids and adults of all abilities, food and drink vendors and special guests including Santa and Geelong Football Club mascots Half Cat and Clawdia.
The Hub’s community and events coordinator Joanne Brown said the event was a celebration of both Christmas and the community.
“There are 36 local stallholders, many of them people who meet here regularly, and it’s all handmade products,” she said.
“The Red Cross will be here, Geelong Fibre Artists, Geelong Food Swap, CWA, the East Geelong Sewing Group…community members that have been part of this place for a long time.
“We’ve got a guy who recycles timber selling chopping boards, we’ve got children’s clothes, Christmas cards, plants, chutneys… it’s a real maker’s market.”
Ms Brown emphasised the accessible nature of the Hub.
“Everyone’s welcome, there are no barriers to coming to the Hub,” she said.
“We want the local community to know this is their centre. They don’t have to spend money at the cafe, they can come in and bring their own food.
“We’re trying to make it as inclusive as we can. There are a lot of really passionate people here, so we just want people to see how good it is.”
