More than 225 artisans, makers and designers from across the country will set up shop at the U of A Butterdome from December 4–7 for Alberta’s largest holiday craft market. Celebrating 35 years, the Butterdome Craft Sale gives Edmontonians a one-of-a-kind chance to support local small businesses, celebrate diverse Canadian heritage and, in the time of tariffs and shipping delays, put their money where it counts.
Since 1990, the Butterdome Craft Sale has become Alberta’s premier holiday shopping event, allowing visitors to meet passionate creatives in person, hear their stories, and feel their works first-hand—all the while enjoying drinks and snacks, live music, and festive decor, say organizers.
Across the country, this year’s artisans have been selling more than ever, and the 2025 Butterdome Craft Sale spotlights a slew of products that speak to a growing Canadian pride: wild rose hip soap (Prairie Soap Shack); cork wall maps featuring NHL arenas (Wanderlust Creatures); maple garlic sauces and jellies (Voisin’s Maple Products); Lake Louise-inspired porcelain earrings (Heatgust); moose-patterned flannel baby bibs (Gracious Gifts); and maple leaf stained glass suncatchers (A Touch of Glass). It’s no surprise that the show’s Christmas trees will be topped with maple leaves in lieu of stars, they said.
“Alongside other concessions and delicious artisan samples, this year’s Craft Sale will also host the CBC’s Make the Season Kind food truck from Dec 5 to 7, with acclaimed Edmonton chef Daniel Costa (Olia Ristorante, Bar Henry, Bar Bricco) curating a by-donation dish in support of Edmonton’s Food Bank and Food Banks Alberta. (Spoiler: The Zuppa di Ceci, or chickpea soup, cleverly incorporates key pantry items that food banks need this time of year.),” according to organizers.
“Since the tariffs conversation began, we’ve seen a clear surge in demand for locally made goods, both online and in-person at markets and events,” says Ray Ma of Honest Dumpings. “Our customers are more intentional than ever about buying Canadian. They want to know the story behind the food—who made it, where the ingredients came from, and how their purchase supports jobs in their own community.”
“Recently, I’ve noticed that customers value “Canadian-made” and “handmade” more than ever, seeing my work not just as functional mugs but as pottery that carries a Canadian story—a piece many customers say feels distinctly Canadian,” says potter Moon Kim of MoonK Studio. Her mugs, bowls and serving trays often reflect Canadian wildflowers, camping life, and mountains (Canmore’s “Three Sisters” are a fan favourite!) with clay and materials sourced from Canada and her native Korea.
For a full list of vendors, visit butterdome.com/artists/
Tickets at butterdome.com.
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