Inaugural Kamloops Christmas Market officially underway

“We do have some that are just here for the weekend, some that are just here for the week and some that are there for the full event,” Olthuis said. “We’re just over 50 which is exciting to have.”

Olthuis says there will also be a number of live musical performances each night as well as number of other events on offer during the market, which is modelled after the Vancouver Christmas market.

“We do have a paint a sip event, we do have a mocktail class as well, and some Christmas cahoots and karaoke,” Olthuis said. “There’s a lot of different things, so each night has something different for everybody.”

Olthuis told CFJC Today that these Christmas markets are growing in popularity and this particular market in Kamloops is the first of its kind in the B.C. Interior.

“We’re trying to have synergies with the Santa Claus Parade and some Blazers games and other events that are happening during that time that will draw people into the core of the city,” he said in April when the idea was the Christmas market was initially floated.

The Kamloops Christmas Market will run between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Fridays, and between 11:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on weekends.

“We’re hoping that it’s a huge success and that it can continue to be an annual project for us,” Othuis added.

Admission is $5 per day if bought online or $7 at the door. People can also buy full event passes online for $15.

You can find the entire schedule for the 2025 Kamloops Christmas Market here.

– With files from Michael Reeve/CFJC Today

by Victor Kaisar

Inaugural Kamloops Christmas Market officially underway

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