Your go-to guide to local gift giving this Christmas
Discover affordable gifts, unique creations and festive fun at markets across Adelaide, supporting South Australian makers while ticking off your Christmas list.
As Christmas draws closer and South Australians begin hunting for the perfect gifts, the state’s festive markets are stepping into the spotlight. For many shoppers, these markets have become a go-to for meaningful presents, a chance to meet the people behind the products, and a way to find something special without stretching the budget.
And this year, Adelaide’s busiest market organisers say the appetite for local, handmade and thoughtfully curated gifts has never been stronger.
For Jenn Centenera, organiser of the long-running Gilles at the Grounds, the magic of Christmas shopping starts with understanding the impact a single purchase can have.
“I read something about a small maker doing a ‘happy dance’ after a sale,” she says. “It sounds cute, but it’s true. They’ve dreamed, created and prepared all year for this moment. Christmas sales genuinely determine whether many of them can continue developing and designing into next year.”
Gilles, which began in 2008 as a small pop-up, now draws around 150 stalls each market day. Its end-of-year Gift Bazaar – held on November 29 and 30, with final markets on December 13 and 14 – brings together an eclectic mix of creatives from Adelaide, regional SA and beyond.
Visitors can browse Renmark streetwear from Ryde Clothing, Barossa pottery from Goldie Pottery Studio, Kangaroo Island artwork from Chantal Leonhardt and sustainable dog accessories from Georgia Paws Dogs, alongside cult favourites like Prohibition Gin, Leeroy’s cookies and Butter and Toast doughnuts.
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What’s equally important, Centenera says, is affordability.
“People often assume buying local is expensive but it doesn’t have to be,” she says. “Our vintage section is extensive and full of unique, cost-effective finds. And the pre-loved fashion area has grown immensely – people clear their wardrobes for a minimal fee, so shoppers get something quality and affordable with a sustainable twist.”
The market’s hands-on workshops, free entry, dog-friendly lawns and all-day live music have created a loyal community that returns year after year.
“It’s a comfortable place to meet friends, relax and discover things you didn’t expect,” she says. “And between the workshops and the stallholder connections, it’s a space where people interact directly with makers – that adds so much meaning to the gifts they take home.”
Across the city, Allison McKay from Artisans of Adelaide brings a similar ethos to her indoor market at St Clair on December 7. Her event grew out of a 2018 Fringe pop-up that unexpectedly revealed just how hungry people were for well-curated local goods. After strong attendance last year, the St Clair Christmas market is back with around 60 makers offering jewellery, art, candles, homewares, terrariums, upcycled clothing and quality children’s pieces.
“I honestly don’t think you’ll find a better curated room of South Australian products this Christmas,” McKay says. “Ninety per cent of what’s sold is made right here in SA – and at most of our events, it’s 100 per cent.”
McKay is passionate about challenging the idea that handmade means high-priced.
“People often think ‘artisan’ equals expensive, but it doesn’t,” she says. “We have earrings from $10, beautiful handmade items from $5 that are perfect for stockings or Kris Kringles, and of course special pieces if you want them. Makers know people are budgeting – they’ve adapted to keep things accessible.”
Shoppers can also snap a free photo with Father Christmas from 11am to 2pm, and the $2 entry fee supports a South Australian charity. For McKay, though, the real joy lies in the one-on-one conversations.
“When you chat with the person who made the product you’re buying, that connection is everything,” she says. “It’s meaningful for shoppers, and encouraging for makers who rely on these events to keep creating.”
In the CBD, Adelady’s Christmas Village will be taking over Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga on December 12 and 13. Supported by the City of Adelaide, the two-day event transforms the square into a Christmas wonderland, complete with live entertainment, local food and drink, and more than 100 South Australian businesses in one central location.
Shoppers can browse everything from handcrafted goods and candles to homewares, art, succulents, fashion and last-minute vouchers, with a dedicated zone highlighting the work of young Adelaide entrepreneurs.
Local brands including 23rd Street Distillery, Bickford’s, Beresford Wines and Vale Brewing will feature at the bar, and families can enjoy a free DBH Lawyers Kids’ Zone with face painting, Santa letter-writing, rides and free photos with Mr and Mrs Claus.
The Credit Union SA Community Stage will host performances throughout both sessions, from Christmas carols to feel-good local acts, making it as much an evening out as a shopping trip. Entry is kept affordable with a gold coin donation, ensuring the event remains welcoming for everyone.
This Christmas, South Australians don’t need to look far for meaningful gifts. They simply need to visit their local markets, where creativity, affordability and community come together – often with a happy dance happening behind the counter.
