Markets · 4 min read

Christmas Craft Markets in Duncan & Qualicum Beach, 2026

Four Christmas markets, a Saturday market and a gallery: here's where to find Design by Rama in person this season, and how to make the most of a craft market.

The best way to choose a pair of handmade earrings is to hold them up to your face in a mirror. That's what the Christmas craft markets are for. This season Rama, the maker behind Design by Rama, will be at four of them across the Cowichan Valley and up-Island, alongside her regular Saturday market in Duncan.

Christmas market dates for 2026

• Christmas Chaos — Thursday November 12 and Friday November 13. Heritage Hall, Cowichan Community Centre, Duncan.
• WinterFest Craft Fair — Friday November 20 to Sunday November 22. Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, main hall, booth 15.
• QMS Holiday Market & Fair — Saturday November 28, 10am to 2pm. Queen Margaret's School, 660 Brownsey Avenue, Duncan.
• Holiday Market at The Hamlets at Duncan — Thursday December 3, 1pm to 4pm. 5950 York Road, Duncan.

On Saturdays through the season, the Design by Rama table is also at the Duncan Farmers Market in City Square, 10am to 2pm. And in Nanaimo, a rotating selection is stocked in Space 124 at the Pacific Arts Market gallery, #100–460 Wallace Street, Wednesday to Sunday. The full, up-to-date list is always on the Find Us In Person page.

What you'll find on the table

One-of-a-kind beaded earrings, made by hand in Duncan with glass beads Rama brings home from Ghana — recycled Krobo glass beads from the country's Eastern Region, and fine glass seed beads woven into patterns. Fringe earrings, drops, hoops, mandalas and a few seasonal designs, plus some necklaces and beaded leather pieces. Each design is named after a city or town in Ghana, and most are made only once.

Tips for shopping a Christmas craft market

Go early. With one-of-a-kind work, the pair you loved on Thursday may not be there on Friday. The first hour of the first day has the widest choice.

Try things on. Length and weight are hard to judge from a photo. Beaded earrings are lighter than they look, and fringe moves in a way a picture can't show.

Ask the maker. Where the beads come from, how long a pair takes, what the name means. The story is part of the gift — and it's something you can only get at the table.

Think about who you're buying for. If you're not sure of their style, neutrals like white, cream and gold go with almost everything. Our guide on how to choose earrings as a gift walks through it.

Bring a card or cash. Card, debit and cash are all accepted at the table.

For more on where to buy handmade work on the Island all year round, see where to buy handmade jewelry on Vancouver Island.

Questions

Will Design by Rama be at WinterFest 2026 in Qualicum Beach?
Yes. Design by Rama is at WinterFest Craft Fair at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre from Friday November 20 to Sunday November 22, 2026, in the main hall at booth 15.

Where can I buy handmade earrings at a Christmas market in Duncan BC?
Design by Rama is at Christmas Chaos at the Cowichan Community Centre (November 12 and 13), the QMS Holiday Market & Fair at Queen Margaret's School (November 28, 10am to 2pm) and the Holiday Market at The Hamlets at Duncan (December 3, 1pm to 4pm), as well as the Duncan Farmers Market on Saturdays.

Can I buy Design by Rama earrings online if I can't get to a market?
Yes. The full collection is at designbyrama.com, and shipping is free anywhere in Canada.