Out in Abbotsford at the Tradex Christmas comes early with the West Coast Christmas Show.  Since we have the use of the Ford Fusion this week, we dressed up the car and drove out to launch ourselves into Christmas mode.

Dairy Farmers of Canada (for whom I am an ambassador right now) was out there teaching shoppers all about Canadian Cheese, Anna Olson was on stage with holiday baking tips (check out my interview with her here) and BBQ Master Brian Misko partnered with Johnston’s Pork to teach us how to make simple pork-themed appies.

There were a few junky booths with nick-knacks that no one really needs, but there was also a lot of really good locally made items that would be great for hostess gifts or in your kitchen to liven up your holiday cooking.  Sweet Thea had spectacular stolen, plum puddings and immaculately decorated gingerbread, Tea Sparrow was sampling lovely tea and you could sign yourself or someone else up for their tea club, and Farmhouse Cheese had their Agassiz-made cheeses on hand for sale.

I would have liked to have seen some seasonal foods for sale for purchase and immediate consumption like at the Vancouver Christmas Market (I was craving bratwurst) as the concession food could definitely be improved upon.  We should have stopped at Yolks on the way out as I initially had planned.

We left with a few checks off our holiday shopping list, a tiny Christmas Tree and enjoyed the drive in the Ford Fusion which we were loaned for the week and will miss greatly upon it’s return tomorrow.  The show will definitely get you into the Christmas mood.