We love a good market, especially one with the word 'Christmas' attached! So hop in the car, crank up the Bublé (your secret's safe with us) and head along to one of many such events popping up across Auckland this festive season.
Friday November 29
Christmas Market St Heliers
Get your stocking stuffers sorted with a blitz around St Heliers' Christmas Market. This evening event will be bringing you festive-themed decorations, food (including preserves and homebaking), crafts and more.
Saturday November 30
I Love Takapuna Christmas Carnival
Kiwi Christmases are synonymous with hot summer days by the beach, and that's exactly what you'll get at Takapuna's inaugral, market-style Christmas Carnival. The suburb's main street will once again shut down to host an impressive array of festive-themed entertainment, food stalls, games and more. End the day with a Christmas coffee from nearby Starbucks (the toffee nut latte is a must), enjoyed beneath the larger-than-life Christmas tree on Hurstmere Green.
German Christmas Market Green Bay
The Germans know a thing or two about Christmas, and now you too can enjoy some authentic Bavarian festivities with a trip to Green Bay's German Christmas Market. Now in its 11th year, this event is definitely one to diarise with its selection of beautiful goods, including some damn fine examples of what we reckon this European nation does best—festive baking!
Saturday November 30—Saturday December 21
Crafternoon Tea Christmas Markets
Stock up on bespoke, locally-made gifts when you visit one of Crafternoon Tea's epic artisan Christmas Markets. Taking place at locations across Auckland (Mt Albert, Albany, Mt Eden and Kingsland); these are your one-stop-shop for all manner of stocking stuffers including jewellery, skincare and homewares, as well as cute Christmas gifts for the littlies in your life.
Sunday December 1
Devonport Christmas Festival Market
A day out in Devonport is a treat at the best of times—throw a Christmas market into the mix, and we're there with, well, bells on. Quality jewellery, food and gifts will be amongst the offerings from local artists and other creatives at this festive celebration by the sea.
Devonport Ethical Christmas Market
For a Christmas market with the feel-good factor, head around the corner to Devonport's Ethical Christmas Market, which focuses on providing eco-friendly, sustainable and ethically-sourced goods that are legit doing their bit to make the world a better place. Buying your pressies here is guaranteed to send you straight to the top of Santa's nice list.
General Collective Lifestyle & Design Market—Christmas Edition
Sleigh bells are ringing over at ASB Showgrounds, where the team at General Collective are throwing their largest and most anticipated market of the year. Head along on December 1 and knock out pressies for all the hard-to-buy people in your life (because let's face it, everyone has at least one of them). You won't find these carefully-curated gifts in the shops, which include designer homewares, fashion and art, all made by Kiwi creatives. A mouthwatering line-up of food trucks will also be on hand, as well as a coffee and wine bar—we'll see you there.
Wednesday December 4
Christmas Connect Market
The Christmas fairies at General Collective certainly have their work cut out for them this festive season, with yet another Christmas market in the works. This time around they're partnering with Generator (a shared workspace in Wynyard Quarter) to bring you their trademark collection of high-quality, New Zealand-made products for an intimate midweek market. Like any good event there will also be some great food on offer, from both Generator's cafe and a number of top street food vendors.
Thursdays December 5—19
Victoria Park Market Christmas Markets
As home to Auckland's tallest chimney (careful now, Santa), Victoria Park Market is a fitting location for what's set to be a truly magical holiday event. This historic landmark will be hosting an authentic, European-style Christmas market each Thursday throughout December, featuring festive performances and boutique craft and food stalls; all under the merry glow of string upon string of Christmas lights. Finish the night with a stroll up nearby Franklin Road, home to what is without doubt one of Auckland's finest Christmas light displays.
Saturday December 7
Ponsonby Christmas Market Day
Come wander Auckland's hippest shopping strip and bag a few festive bargains along the way at Ponsonby's annual Christmas Market Day. This popular event offers a fantastic line-up of market stalls as well as Christmas treats, music and even gift-wrapping. And don't forget to check out the cheeky Santa that appears atop the town's skyline each year—which guise will he take in 2019?
Ponsonby Central—Christmas Frivolities & Festivities
The name for this one says it all, really! Wander market stalls in the company of fairies and elves, enjoy live music in the lane, even get your face painted if you feel so inclined (it'll make for a pretty sweet Insta, just saying). Refuel after all that fun with a $10 food special from one of the precinct's restaurants (which, if you know anything about Ponsonby Central, are all top-notch).
Sunday December 8
Glasshouse Christmas Market
Christmas shopping can be stressful to say the least, which is why we recommend visiting the idyllic holiday market happening over at Glasshouse. With its many large windows and stunning foliage, this serene venue located inside the Morningside Precinct is as far from the sterile lights of a shopping mall as you can get; and with a range of beautiful products again on offer from General Collective, you're sure to make it through your gift-list in no time.
An Eden Park Christmas
Auckland's legendary sporting venue is transforming into a Christmas wonderland with all the trimmings. There'll be music from a 500-piece choir; tasty eats provided by local food trucks, as well as festive food offerings from eateries in the nearby Fringe District; and a colab with Crafternoon Tea, which will again be on hand to wrap-up your gift giving.
Saturday December 14
Mercatino di Natale—Italian Christmas Market
You'll be living la dolce vita as you wander the stalls at this fabulous Italian Christmas market, which comes to Freeman's Bay each December. This is the place for sophisticated European pressies, especially of the food variety—think panettone, Prosecco and pandoro. Bellissimo!
Sunday December 15
Auckland Polish Christmas Market
The second from last Christmas market on our calendar this year is that hosted by The Auckland Polish Association. Grab yourself some authentic, handcrafted Polish goodness from this event on December 15, and experience the spirit of a true European Christmas.
Friday December 20
Love Street Food Festive Market
The final chance to get your hands on some one-off goodies at the festive market and foodie fest coming to Greenhithe. Expect amazing craft, artisan gifts and of course, a stunning line up of the best food trucks in Auckland. The street food line up is epic—Jo Bros Burgers, Amaranto, Akemi's Gyoza, Hapunan, The Hungry Swine, Ice Cream Social and Deputy Donuts...and the Bohemian Cider Bar. Come eat, drink, shop and be merry.
Friday December 20—Monday December 23
Christmas At Silo Park
Okay okay, so we know this one isn't technically a Christmas market, but it's still a festive celebration we think you'll want to know about. Silo Park is transforming into an over-the-top holiday wonderland where you can eat (from a selection of top food trucks), drink (think festive-themed bevvies from the Silo Park bar) and be merry (with DJs, games and carols) in the final days before Christmas. There will also be a Christmas tree forest in one of the silos with trees made from recycled materials, a Christmas craft workshop, and the pièce de résistance—the annual Silo Cinema: People's Choice Christmas film. Get online today and place your vote for either Home Alone (yusss!), Elf, Gremlins or Love Actually.
Happy shopping, people!
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Image credit: Markus Spiske