A Wallet Work-out: The Directory of Holiday Bazaars

Beijing is alive again with Christmas bazaars that commence this weekend till a week to Christmas, which means it time to put all wallets to the test. The following list has the old timers and some new comers. The team over at our sister magazine beijingkids will be setting up craft stalls at some of these events so be sure to come check them out -- and check their events page for more bazaars.

Sat, Nov 9 & Sun, Nov 10
Rotary Club of Beijing’s Annual Charity Bazaar
Two days worth of Christmas shopping, entertainment and games for the whole family are in store at this year’s Rotary Club of Beijing Charity Bazaar. In store will be apparels and accessories, jewelry, handicrafts, health and beauty products, toys and more. There will be a silent auction for a chance to own a WEMPE watch and raffle draw with some really cool prizes to be won.
Time: 9am-6pm
Food and drinks: Special value meals by Kempinksi hotel
Price: free to attend
Charities: Rotary supported charities such as “Gift of Life” Children’s Heart Surgery Program
Contact: www.rotaryclub-beijing.org

Mon, Nov 11 & Tue, Nov, 12
Embassy House Bazaar
Christmas gifts, gift wrap, jewelry, kids items and lots more will be available at the Embassy House for two days, if the weekends are not a possibility.
Time: 10am-4pm
Food and drinks: coffee and cakes
Price: TBD
Contact: 84499888 for directions

Thu, Nov 14
Pinotage Shunyi’s Sip and Shop
Enjoy a bottle or glass of red wine from South Africa while browsing a selection of gifts, jewelry and more at PinotageShunyi’s new location.
Time: 10am-6pm
Price: Free to attend but prices of the wine depend on what has been ordered
Charities: Roundabout

Sat, Nov 16
Charity Bake Sale and Christmas Bazaar
The Children’s House Charity Bake Sale and Christmas Bazaar will feature wonderful fares of local artisans to get the some Chinese inspired Christmas gifts. The sale of baked goods will go to the charities.
Time: from 10am to 4pm
Photos: Santa’s Grotto family portrait
Food and drinks: baked goods
Price: free to attend
Charities: Roundabout
Contact: 6465 1305; info@montessoribeijing.com

3e Christmas Bazaar
3e invites families to join together in their Christmas bazaar for a day of fun and shopping.
Time: 10am-Noon
Price: free to attend
Contact: info@3einternationalschool.org

River Garden Winter Holiday Bazaar
The River Garden’s annual European-style
Winter Holiday Bazaar will be keeping up with a much-loved River
Garden Villas tradition. Volunteers from within our Community
have brought together some of the best vendors from Beijing
and beyond to help you with holiday shopping.
Time: 10am-4pm
Price: free to attend
Contact: 8046-1918,
management@rivergarden-villa.com

Wed, Nov 20
Gourmet food and shop
The Green T. House Living has a new kind of fair that is devoted purely to the sale of fine gourmet food to get your Holiday season started. There will some vendors selling gifts and accessories for a little shopping.
Time: 10am-4pm
Food and drinks: baked goods and holiday drinks such as mulled wine, hot chocloate
Price: free entry inclusive of hot ginger tea
Charities: Roundabout
Contact: www.green-t-house.com/play.php

Sat, Nov 23
WAB's Annual Parent Link Charity Bazaar
This year's WAB Parent Link Charity Bazaar promises to be a great opportunity to purchase holiday gifts for the coming seasons, watch some dazzling performances, enjoy fun activities with the family, and even have a family portrait taken for your holiday cards.
Time: 10.30am-3.30pm
Food and drinks: Baked goods, eat-in or take away (Korean, Chinese, ASEAN, Mexican, Italian, Indian, Finnish, bagels, sausages and sandwiches)
Price: free to attend
Charities: Yingbo Kindergarten; Yearn-to-Learn, a school for mentally disabled children (sponsorship of a teacher for one year); and Little Adoption Shop (a Beijing-based animal adoption center and shelter)
Contact: charitybazaar@wab.edu.

BSB Shunyi’s Christmas Fayre
This year, the British School of Beijing Shunyi’s Christmas Fayre will host an outdoor German style Christmas market, an indoor Christmas activities center and a tree lighting ceremony.  There will be homemade jams, teas, cheeses, baked goods and chocolates to handmade handicrafts, photography, jewelry, cashmere scarves and unique cards and papers. School orchestra, wind band, Choirs singing Christmas carols from the junior, senior and mixed age groups. Taking a photo with Santa to take home and put up on your mantle
Food and drinks: German style food and mulled wine
Time: 4-7:30pm
Price: free
Charities: School charities
Contact: British School of Beijing, Shunyi Campus

Sun, Nov 24
The Gift @ CISB
In it’s fifth year, The Gift Charity bazaar will be hosted at the Canadian International School of Beijing gym where stand with gifts by Tai Tai, ceramics by Soul Collection; a 798 gallery, a new line of jewelry by Starfish Project; a local charity, artwork by local artists, quirky Beijing inspired Christmas cards, unique children’s apparel by Little Animals Knitwear and more will be assembled. There will be live music all day with a line up of Avodah, Eluvia and The China Conservatory of music.
Food and drinks: lunch and snacks by Tex-Mex, Punjabi Indian, Sweets by Bread of Life Bakery, Lollipop bakery and others
Time: 11am-4pm
Price: RMB 10 for Adults, free for kids below 10
Contact: www.stageoneproductions.org/thegift

Wed, Nov 27
Coffee & Books Christmas bazaar
Dulwich’s Coffee and Books will be hosting a Christmas fair for friends and families to get the chance to buy Christmas gifts, jewelry, silks, gifts wraps and much more.
Time: 10am-2pm
Food and drinks: baked goods and holiday drinks such as mulled wine, hot chocolate
Price: free to attend
Charities: Coffee and books school charities
Contact: Mary Kate Brown (brownmarykate@yahoo.co.uk) if you want to get a table 

Sat, Nov 30
German Christmas Charity Bazaar
The German Embassy opens its doors to the public once a year for its Christmas bazaar where people can get a chance at early shopping of some homemade crafts and enjoy a few caroling performances. The only drawback is that there is a long line of people wanting to get in. Please take your passport with you.
Time: 11am to 5pm
Food and drinks: German style food specialties such as sausages and mulled wine
Price: Free to attend
Contact: 8532 9000

BCIS/MCF Christmas Bazaar
This year, the joint Beijing City International School and the Migrant Children Foundation will have over 60 Christmas shopping stalls with a range of products, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a raffle draw, wine tasting also live music and performances by the kids from both MCF and BCIS.
Food and drinks: different vendors
Time: 11am-3pm
Price: free to attend
Charities: MCF’s health check program
Contact: 8771 7171, www.bcis.cn

Sun, Dec 1
BSB Sanlitun Christmas Fayre
The British School of Beijing's annual Christmas Fayre is an annual charity fund raiser with stalls selling wonderful gifts and tasty treats. There will also be a raffle with fantastic prizes to be won.
Time: 11am-3pm
Kids activities/area: specific stalls set up offering different activities.
Food and drinks: mince pies and mulled wine
Price: RMB 10 and free for children under 12
Charities: Thirst and UNICEF China
Contact: 8532 3088

Sat, Dec 14
The Hutong Christmas Fayre
The Hutong Christmas Fayrewill have a “warm-winter” theme and they will be serving piping hot cups of vinbrulé. This is for the last minute shopper who still has not found that rare gem to give during Christmas from Affordable Art, BJ Postcards, Great Leap Brewery, Hani Coffee, Hummingbird Spa, Le Fromager de Pekin, Lollipop Cupcakes, Puddington Pies, Shangrila Farms, Tai Tai, Tea Journeys, Tutextiles, Viaggio Scarves, and more.
Time: 11am-3pm
Food and drinks: provided by The Hutong
Price: free to attend
Contact: www.thehutong.com/christmas-fayre/

You can keep checking here for more events.

A version of this article originally appeared on beijing-kids.com. Check their site for everything you need to know on parenting and family-friendly things to do in Beijing.

Photo: oldtasty on Flickr