A new season of market shopping is upon us and whether you’re looking for local produce, artisanal goodies, or hand-crafted gems, you’ll love browsing, and filling your baskets, at these upcoming events:

Spring Markets in Vancouver

Portobello West

Where: Creekside Community Recreation Centre
When: Saturday, March 19 & Sunday March 20, 2016 11:00am to 5:00pm
Details: Shop Portobello West for a wide variety of local goods ranging from men & women’s fashion, jewelry, home accessories, art, gourmet treats, baby & kids items, and more. Live music and food trucks. Admission is a minimum $2 entry and children under 12 free.

Blim Market

Where: Heritage Hall at 3102 Main Street, Vancouver
When: Sunday, March 20, 2016 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Details: The Blim Market will feature 50 local artisans—jewellery, vintage, original apparel, baked goods, handmade goods, accessories; door prizes & raffle draw for Blim gift certificates at 2:00pm and 4:00pm; admission is by donation.

Fall For Local

Where: Pipe Shop Building (115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver)
When: Sunday, April 10, 2016 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Details: Shop a wide range of high quality local goods in an upbeat environment at Fall for Local. First 50 guests get a local goodie canvas tote. Admission is $5 cash only. Kids are free. Buy online in advance for $3.

Make It

Where: The PNE Forum (2901 E Hastings Street, Vancouver)
When: Friday, April 22, 2016 11:00am to 9:00pm
Saturday, April 23, 2016 10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday, April 24, 2016 11:00am to 5:00pm
Details: Make It‘s spring show has one-of-a-kind handmade items from over 150 of Canada’s best makers, designers, and crafters. Now with food carts and a beer garden. Pay once, shop 3 days. $5 at the door, kids 12 and under are free.

The Oddfellows Market

Where: 5425 Ladner Trunk Road, Delta
When: Saturday, March 26, 2016 11:00am to 5:00pm
Details: The Oddfellows Market brings artisans, makers, creatives and vintage collectors together under one roof. Plus a few food trucks thrown in the mix. Admission by donations. Kids free. Door prizes.

Nifty for Fifty

Where: Heritage Hall at 3102 Main Street, Vancouver
When: Sunday, April 10, 2016 11:00am to 8:00pm
Details: At Nifty for Fifty, 30 local designers and artists will gather under one roof for the 9th annual Nifty for Fifty shopping sale. Find everything from accessories to clothing and trinkets, all for $50 or less. Admission for entrance is $2 at the door.

Crafty Affaire Spring Market

Where: Crafty Affaire Spring Market (Elgin Hall, 14250 Crescent Rd, Surrey)
When: Saturday, April 23, 2016, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Details: A Little Handmade Market where you’ll find handmade creations, one-of-a-kind treasures and delicious treats for all! $2 Admission. Kids free. Door prizes.

Vancouver Farmers Markets

Where: Nat Bailey Farmers Market (4601 Ontario St, Vancouver)
When: Saturdays until April 23, 2016 10:00am to 2:00pm
Details: The best place to be on a rainy Saturday! Each week you can look forward to finding locally grown vegetables and fruit, meat and seafood from local ranchers and fishermen, artisan cheese and bread, herbs and seasonal nursery items, baked goods, prepared foods and artisanal crafts.

Where: Hastings Park Farmers Market (Hastings Skate Park, Renfrew, Vancouver)
When: Sundays until May 1, 2016 10:00am to 2:00pm
Details: Find the market between the Forum and the Agrodome and stroll down tree-lined pathways, wander through the Italian garden and stop by the sanctuary pond, bring the kids bundled up and play in the playground, or drop into the skateboard park. The Hastings Park Farmers Market features a great selection of local produce; nursery items, fish, meat & dairy; artisan prepared foods, baking and treats; the best in local crafts, and of course, hot food trucks.

Got Craft? Spring Edition

Where: Pipe Shop Building (115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver)
When: Saturday, May 7 & Sunday, May 8, 2016 10:00am to 5:00pm
Details: Got Craft? is a curated boutique event created to showcase favourite handmade designers. Shop for one of a kind goods, meet local makers, and talk about their creative processes. Join one of the D.I.Y. workshops and craft your own take home project. $5 at the door or $3 postcard coupon.

East Van Bazaar

Where: Wise Hall (1882 Adanac St, Vancouver)
When: Sunday, May 8, 2016 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Details: The East Van Bazaar: Mother’s Day Edition is more than a market, it’s a manifestation of creativity! Celebrate and explore a thriving community of local artists, artisans, makers, shakers, doers and dreamers. Tickle your fancy with a distinct selection of hand-crafted jewelry, local woodwork, new gadgets, oddities, trinkets, collectibles, cool handmade items, vintage reworks, and heaps more. Over 35 curated vendors, food & drink offerings, live music.

Bonus

Just outside Vancouver and up the Sea to Sky Highway, the Refresh Market takes place at West Coast Railway Heritage Park on April 23rd.

Vancouver’s original Irish pub, The Blarney Stone, is celebrating all things Irish this St Patrick’s Day with five days of festivities for the whole family that started this past weekend.

St Patrick’s Day at the Blarney Stone

Here’s what else is coming up at the Blarney Stone this week:

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Irish Acoustic Night (Sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey)
Popular Guitar & Fiddle Duo, The Doolins, take the stage at 7:00pm
Free Pool, darts, classic Irish Craic, Irish fare & drink specials.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016
St Patrick’s Day Eve (Sponsored by Molson Canadian)
Be the first to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Blarney Stone as they bring in the holiday at midnight. Live classic Celtic music from The Wheat in the Barley, countdown and Balloon drop at midnight, Irish dancers, $13.50 pitchers of Molson Canadian all night.

Thursday, March 17, 2016
St Patrick’s Day Street Party sponsored by Magners Irish Cider and Guinness. Along the entire 200 Block of Carrall Street from 9:00am to 2:00am. Featuring:

St Patrick’s Day Brunch Buffet 9:00am to 12:00pm
Outdoor Street Tent with Live Music
Irish and Scottish Dancers
Live Irish and Rock music from the Infamous Pat Chessell Band
Pipes and Drums
Circus Performers
Free Balloons and Face Painting
Irish Party Favours
Acoustic Street Performance by Sebastien Wen
Live Celtic, Folk and Reggae with The Sheets
Live Party Anthems, Irish, Rock and Folk covers from The Loaded Stones.
Irish, Rock, Folk, Top 40 and Electronic spins with DJ Steel

Win a Blarney Stone St Patrick’s Day Ticket Pack

I have two ticket packs to give away, each including 4 tickets to St Patrick’s Day at the Blarney Stone PLUS a $100 gift card! Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a @blarneystonevan St Patrick’s Day ticket pack with a $100 gift card from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/ZsG2Y

Follow The Blarney Stone on Twitter and Facebook for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly.

Update The winners are Adam and Christine!

The Cherry Blossom Photo of the Day series contains photos that you have shared with the Miss604 Flickr Pool and/or the #Photos604 tag on Instagram.

Today’s selection, by Vanexus Photography, is such a quintessential photo of Vancouver in the springtime: An umbrella under the pink blossom canopy:

View more photography posts on Miss604 along with the Vancouver Photos of the Week – and be sure to tag your photos with #Photos604!

Kids get in Free at VanDusen Garden and Bloedel Conservatory this spring break! From March 14th to March 24th, take advantage of up to two free child admissions* with the purchase of a regular price adult, senior or youth admission at VanDusen Garden and/or Bloedel Conservatory.

Find your way through a hedge maze, spot local wildlife, discover over 7,000 different plants from around the world and enjoy a family picnic at VanDusen Garden. Enjoy garden features, plant collections, art in the gardens, and wildlife.

Then head to the tropical Bloedel Conservatory and discover exotic birds and plants inside the lush dome located at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park. Inside the dome there are three separate climatic zones: Tropical, Subtropical and Desert. Browse the plant collections and try to spot one of the 100 residents free-flying birds.

Follow VanDusen on Facebook for more information about hours, location, and special events. *Offers are exclusive to each facility and cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts.

The traditions of the Emerald Isle and the Scottish Highlands come to Vancouver for St Patrick’s Day at Keltic Landing. Imperial Vancouver will be home to a two-night celebration of history, folklore and mythology that’s been centuries in the making.

Enter the bounty of The Emerald Shores to provision your journey with a banquet of fanciful fare by Savoury Chef. Be whisked away to the enchanted forests of The Grove where mystical harps strum; druids conjure libations such as ales, ciders, and traditional Irish stouts; Pictish warriors paint faces with symbols of power and frolicking fairy folk adorn travellers with flower crowns.

Proceed proudly through The Lowlands, where fiddles and bagpipes encircle the great hall and the clans are encouraged to make merry by the Master of the Revels. And, finally, venture into The Highlands Tasting Den for a rugged hero’s dram of Irish Whiskey, a snort of Scots Whisky, or perhaps a skosh of each.

• Where: Imperial Vancouver (319 Main St, Vancouver)
• When: Thursday, March 17 & Friday, March 18, 2016 from 6:00pm to 1:00am
• Tickets: Tickets are $35 per night or $55 for both nights and admission includes two Keltic Coins ($4 value) for use in the Whiskey/Whisky Tasting Den. Group rates (Keltic Kanon and Korporate Kanon) are also available.

Win Tickets to Keltic Landing

I have a pair of tickets to give away to Keltic Landing on St Patrick’s Day, March 17th. The tickets include two Keltic Coins that can be used in the Whiskey/Whisky Tasting Den. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly. Follow Keltic Landing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.
Update The winner is @chauchi09 Yutaka!