Image Credit: CFJC News

By Curtis Goodrum

WINTER MARKET

Kamloops Sports Council asks for city support on European-style Christmas market

Apr 16, 2025 | 4:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Sports Council went before council Tuesday (April 16) to seek support for its idea of an European-style Christmas market. The market’s goal is to attract holiday lovers to Kamloops for an 18-day Christmas celebration.

“We aim to launch the Kamloops Christmas market to stimulate the local economy during this cold shoulder season by capitalizing on a growing demand for Christmas markets. Lately, in North America, they’ve become very popular. We want to get on that, providing local vendors with the opportunity to earn 50 per cent of their expected yearly income,” said Duncan Olthuis, the Kamloops Sports Council’s executive director.

The organization received the support it needed around the horseshoe and plans to proceed with the plan.

“If you’ve ever been to European cities during Christmas, you’ll see those markets in the amazing downtown squares. Christmas markets harness the joy in tradition, while empowering modern and local street food, local artisans, performers and ‘Instagrammable’ memories that last a lifetime,” said Olthuis.

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The group plans to launch a pilot this year, potentially paving the way for the full event in 2026.