Historic Merchants Christmas Gift-Market

Saturday, November 24th, 2012, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
~ at ~
Royal Botanical Gardens,
680 Plains Road West, Burlington, Ontario, Canada Discover a Christmas Market straight from the times of
Jane Austen and Charles Dickens

Join us for one of the premiere shopping events of the season, as some 30 historic merchants and artisans get together to recreate an Upper Canadian Christmas Market from the early 19th century. All of the merchandise dates from the period 1700-1919, which means that this is a terrific place to find gifts for those impossible to buy for people on your holiday list. Wandering the aisles filled with historically-themed booths staffed by vendors in period dress and filled with treasures from the past, you might well expect to run into Jane Austen or Charles Dickens browsing the books, choosing a period garment, or selecting the perfect bauble.

The Gathering is being held during the separately run Royal Botanical Gardens' annual holiday season " Holiday Traditions" event, featuring cleverly themed, decorated doors throughout RBG Centre. The day is filled with seasonal activities, musical entertainment, local school and adult choirs, an entire room full of light and model train displays, and, of course, Santa and his real, live reindeer!

With the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 upon us for the next few years, this is also the perfect place to find out about some of the wonderful upcoming events and how to get involved with them. It’s also just about the best place going to get yourself fully kitted out with everything 1812, so you’ll be ready in fine style, no matter what the bicentennial might bring!

For those wishing for lunch or afternoon tea, Royal Botanical Gardens boasts a full restaurant as well as a juice and sandwich bar for light refreshments. We hope that you'll join us for what promises to be an exciting day of shopping, camaraderie, and fun!

One admission gives entry to both events. Admission is free of charge to those in period dress, and also to Members of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Regular RBG admission will apply to those in modern clothing, as follows: 
Adults: $12; Senior/Student: 
$10; Child (5-12): $7; 
Child (under 5): free; 
Family (2 adults, 2 children): $30.00. 

Further information on the event may be found at http://historicmerchants.com/xmasgathering.htm, or by email at info@spencersmercantile.com, as well as through RBGs' site at http://www.rbg.ca.