Earlier this year, like many of the annual local events we love, the Cronulla Easter Market was a COVID-casualty, but we’re delighted to say that the market is allowed to go ahead for Christmas at a new location and therefore a new name:-

The Shire Christmas Market, presented by Cambridge Markets.

The market is back and even bigger in its new location at Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda.

 

There are plenty of wonderful reasons to head on down with the family and check it out. Here are our top seven:

1. Meaningful family-fun

Every Christmas we all ask kids what they want us to get them for Christmas and what they want from Santa. Before Christmas day is even through, every relative they encounter has asked the kids what they got for Christmas and if Santa was “good” to them. Then, we wonder why they’re so materialistic and we can’t take them to the shops without them asking us for one thousand things off the shelf. 

If you want your kids to focus on giving, rather than receiving, you should start by involving them in the gift-purchasing process. Take the kids along to The Shire Christmas Market and encourage them to think of certain family members and what that person likes or is interested in. 

As they browse the 180 market stalls, they’ll be looking at each one and considering what someone else might like, rather than eyeing off things for themselves- teaching them a valuable lesson and likely saving you money in the process. Where young, impressionable kids are concerned, we do need to remind them that it truly is the thought that counts!

 

2. Give GREAT gifts

If you missed it above, we’ve already mentioned that there will be a whopping 180 market stalls displaying their wares for you to peruse this year. You won’t get a better opportunity to find a diverse range of handmade, local and unique goods and gift ideas this side of Christmas.

Obviously, we can’t list them all, but items you are likely to check off your gift-lists include homewares, fashion, art, crafts, photography, textiles, jewellery, swimwear, clothes and toys for children, hats, treats and toys for pets, leatherwork, food items and paper products.

Enjoy the convenience of browsing so many unique ideas and hard-to-come-by gifts in one location, at your leisure in the outdoors!

3. Wrap it up

Once you’ve made your purchases and know exactly how much wrapping and trimmings you’ll need, you can grab those from The Shire Christmas Market too.

Cards, wrapping paper, ribbon, wreaths, decorations, candles and ornaments will all be available at different stalls so you can conveniently grab everything you need- and it’s not even December! Plus delicious Christmas puddings.

4. Support the Shire

For a small business, every lost sale hurts. For every purchase you don’t make from a small business owner, there’s a purchase that they too can no longer afford to make and this domino-effect weakens our economy.

So many small and local businesses struggled to stay afloat when the pandemic hit. Many of them are still struggling and hoping that Christmas shopping will give them the positive cash injection they need to push ahead. 

A thriving local economy is good for everybody. Buying from the small businesses hosting stalls at The Shire Christmas Market is an excellent chance to put your money where your mouth is and show the little guys some love. Supporting small helps us all.

 

5. Crowd-pleasing outdoor lunch options

We’ve all spent a little too much time indoors this year and now’s our chance to make up for it! At The Shire Christmas Market, you’ll have the (almost unheard of) ideal situation where every family member can get what they want to eat without having to fight over the cuisine or pay extra for the privilege.

On offer, you’ll find hot food stalls including Bamboo Story dumplings, Ikwan Catering Malaysian, vegetarian food by I Love Mushrooms, Taiwanese buns by Mr Bao, paella by Sofrito Paella, burgers and sandwiches by Tothey Brothers Deli and Co, and gourmet hot dogs by the Dog House. 

And if everyone’s on their best behaviour you can even finish with gelato from Messina or biscuits or cupcakes from one of our favourites, Bec Bakes.

6. Kid-focused fun 

Make no mistake about it, this is a family-focussed event and the kiddies have not been forgotten. If the shopping gets to be too much for the kids, you can break it up with a bit of face painting, hair braiding, henna, tarot card reading, arts and crafts and groove to some live music, all of which is bound to keep them happy. As well as a guest appearance by Santa.

 

7. It’s FREE

With so much on offer, you’d expect to pay an entry fee but it won’t cost you a cent to enter The Shire Christmas Market! 

NB: if you come across a Facebook event page that says Cronulla Christmas Market at Don Lucas Reserve, please know it is a fake. The official event page is The Shire Christmas Market at Miranda. And if one of these Facebook events tries to sell you tickets to the event, please avoid these scams. Repeat: This is a FREE event.

Just tell me when and where!

 

When: Saturday 21st November and Sunday 22nd November, 10am-4pm

Where: Seymour Shaw Park, 2 Central Road, Miranda

 

So run, run, Rudolph and get yourself sorted for Christmas in a beautiful socially-distance space where the kids will be psyched to spend their weekend.

Visit Shire Christmas Market website.