Christmas at The Forum implements ticket changes for 48th year

The popular Christmas at the Forum in Halifax has introduced new rules this year.

One of Atlantic Canada’s largest and longest running holiday markets got underway in Halifax Thursday.

For its 48^th year, Christmas at The Forum has made a few changes. The holiday market will run for four days for the first time and has moved to a time-slot system.

“The reason we had to go to a time-slot system is it got really crazy last year,” Chris Banks, owner of Christmas at the Forum, said in an interview with CTV Atlantic’s Crystal Garrett.

“It was very busy, so we needed to manage the crowds, we have to have safety.”

Banks says his team relied on their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic to come up with a way to manage the flow of the market.

“At that point we had to manage the crowds, so we did a two-hour time limit,” said Banks.

“We surveyed over 700 of our customers from last year and 76 per cent of those chose time slots that were under two hours, so we used that as a basis.”

Banks said the craft show gets around 20,000 visitors each year.

“This is actually one of Atlantic Canada’s largest craft shows, it’s the ultimate mom and pop and a local atmosphere,” said Banks.

Vendors say they are excited to come back every year.

“I’m coming here for 16 years, I think. I come because I love our customers, I love the community and I just love giving food,” says Ingrid Dunsworth, The Cake Lady Owner.

This year, tickets are only available in advance. Customers can go online and choose the day they would like to go and pick their two-hour shopping window.

“We just thought about the fact that people aren’t used to being at the show with, let’s call it, elbow room. So, that’s going to make people be a lot more efficient,” said Banks.

“They are going to be able to walk through, they are going to be able to see all of their favourites. It’s going to be really great and, for those who need a bit more time, I know it sounds counterintuitive that you should book another time slot, but you should book another time slot.”

Christmas at The Forum features over 300 vendors, including artisans, makers and small businesses.

“It’s huge, especially being a small business like to be able to get that level of exposure is so important to small businesses,” says Saundria Rolle, Sunlight Design and Co-owner.

The market runs from Thursday to Sunday and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, except for Sunday when it closes at 5 p.m.

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