The annual Fiesta World Craft Bazaar is coming to the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay.

For 31 years, Fiesta has been proving that fair and direct trade can make a difference in the lives of the marginalized and Indigenous peoples from around the world.

On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both floors of the Filberg Centre in Downtown Courtenay will be beautifully transformed into a colourful global marketplace. More than 40 vendors will bring handmade products from over 50 countries that will make the Christmas shopping experience meaningful and fun. The atmosphere is friendly, the vendors have stories, and shoppers will be delighted with their unique, quality, handmade gifts.

Fiesta is forever changing and this year there are some exciting new vendors, along with some veteran booths.

One of the all-time favourites, 10,000 Villages, is back with women鈥檚 clothing, new ornaments and more.

Blythe of Kenana Kanada has just brought new products from Kenya, including classy cell phone stands and charming children鈥檚 wool stuffies. There will be amazing baskets from Rwanda, South Africa and Kenya.

Yakine is a new vendor who comes from the olive-growing area of Tunisia. His family has an olive wood carving shop that produces exquisite chess sets and functional kitchen items.

Black Jaguar Chocolate will be tempting you and the Gathering Place will spice up your life with spices and teas.

Mondo and Company sources fair trade products from 42 countries and sells eye-catching bathrobes from Bangladesh. Mystic Lotus has whimsical toys and quirky musical instruments; Ba from Senegal has shea butter beauty creams, and there is a sparkling variety of jewellery.

Shoppers may come across soft cozy Tibetan shawls, a cute felted bear or bird, a pop-up three-dimensional card, or perhaps Louise of Aldea Maya will help you give an alternative gift, helping a child in Guatemala go to school.

A dozen of the vendors come from the Valley and are raising funds to bring in refugees, help a community in Africa, or support our own who need a hand up.

Admission to help pay the expenses is $2, which also includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win some of the $1,000 worth of crafts donated by the vendors.

The Caffe Verde vegan food truck will also be on hand with a variety of tasty warm wraps and Lorena and Janetth will be serving up their popular El Salvadorian pupusas.

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