Have Yourself A Merry Local Christmas...

In the first of a series of pieces advising on where to buy hand made, local, and unusual Christmas gifts this year I have been looking into the best markets and fayres coming up in the area. I have previously written about Falmouth's upcoming Charity Shop market, and this has inspired me to go further with the topic.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be bringing you info on various websites, including local and independant craftspeople, nation and worldwide producers of quality food, jewellery, homewares and numerous other gifts - once you really get searching it's amazing just how many alternatives there are to the high street!

So why look for gifts in these places, when it's so convenient to leaf through the Argos catalogue? Well, in the case of local markets it's obvious - everybody wants to support their local craftspeople and there is no better way than to buy your Christmas gifts from them - but aside from that, you're sure to find something special, something unusual, beautiful, lovingly made and high quality for a great price!

So, let's start with the markets and fayres - this isn't a definitive list, so please feel free to add any more below!

PENRYN Temperance Hall, Fridays 10am - 12pm regular market with a variety of stalls for local producers.

STITHIANS Stithians Centre, every 3rd Saturday 9am - 12pm produce market including local veg, flowers, cakes, curry, cards, books, jewellery etc. Next on 21st November.

CAMBORNE Christmas Craft Fair, Sat 14th November, featuring local crafts at St John's RC Primary School, Trevu Road 11am - 4pm.

FLUSHING Christmas Craftmakers Fayre, Sat 14th November, Flushing Village Hall for all kinds of crafts, contact Jenny on 07943 029 683 or Hilary on 01326 373 066 after 6pm.

MABE Craft Fair, Sat 14th November, Mabe Community Hall 10am - 5pm local crafts and producers.

MYLOR Christmas Gift Fair, Sat 21st November, local designer makers, Tremayne Hall, Mylor Bridge 10am - 4pm.

FALMOUTH Craft & Gift Market, a new indoor market for Falmouth, going on once a month up to Christmas, next on Saturday 21st November from 10.30am - 4pm including handmade gifts, local food and artisan crafts.

TRURO Lemon Quay, Made In Cornwall, Wed 25th - Sat 28th November, 9.30am - 6pm Thurs to Sat, open till 9pm Wed for late night shopping.

NEWQUAY Kernokopia Fri 27th - Mon 30th November, a spiritual, body and mind based fayre with all kinds of gifts, treatments and music. Sands Resort, Fri 1pm - 7pm, Sat/Sun 10am - 6pm.

LIZARD Shine Fair at the craft centre on the Trelowarren Estate, The Lizard, from Sat 28th to Mon 30th November, 5pm - 8pm

FOWEY Christmas Market, Sat 5th & Sun 6th December, one of the best known and biggest Christmas markets in Cornwall, with 3 marquees on Town Quay plus other venues around town. Open 10am - 5pm both days.

FEOCK Christmas Fayre, the Trelissick Estate near Feock, Sat 12th and Sun 13th December - more details on 01872 862090

HELSTON Christmas Craft Market, Sat 12th December 9.30am - 1.30pm at the Cattle Market by the boating lake (next to Lidl).