Some practice trick-or-treating will be on offer for kids at the Cedar Farmers Market this Sunday, as their 2025 season wraps. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

treat or treat

‘Absolutely the best market of the year:’ Halloween theme wraps Cedar market season

Oct 26, 2025 | 5:59 AM

NANAIMO — The final market of the year for Cedar Farmers Market vendors and organizers is always bittersweet.

It signals the end of another season at the former Woodbank Elementary School fields on Woobank Rd. in Cedar, but is also one of the biggest highlights on a jam packed schedule through the spring and summer.

Market executive director Kate Poirier told NanaimoNewsNOW vendors and visitors will be dressed up and in full Halloween spirit when doors open at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.

“I would say it’s absolutely the best market of the year. We do trick or treating at all of the vendor tables, we usually have about 100 different businesses set up, and new this year we also have the North Cedar Fire Department and they’re going to come onto the field with one of their big ladder trucks for the kids to check out.”

While attendance for the outdoor event is always weather dependant, Poirier said they’ll see anywhere between 1,500 and 2,500 people in attendance.

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Sunday’s market wraps the 29th season for the central Island summer staple, drawing tens of thousands of people out to the rural area.

Poirier said this year has seen record numbers on many fronts.

“Just our opening back on Mother’s Day in May set an all time attendance record for us, with 3,500 people coming through, and our opening month of operation…we actually saw well over 10,000 shoppers come through in just four market days and we’ve never come close to those kinds of numbers before.”

Ideal conditions through much of the spring and summer helped efforts to connect more people with fresh, local produce and artisanal goods.

Following Sunday’s finale, attention for Poirier and organizers will turn to their annual Christmas market, planned for Nov. 9.

Over 100 vendors are expected to offer unique Christmas gift ideas ahead of the holiday season.

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