Photo: Contributed
Laurel Burnham ran artisan markets in Penticton for many years, and when she became sick last year and decided to step down from the Penticton Okanagan Makers Christmas Market, her friend Frances Callaghan was happy to take over.
“She put me in the direction right away of what to do,” Callaghan said. “The show is now going to continue, but under a new name, because Okanagan Makers belonged to Laurel.”
Burnham passed away this summer after losing her third battle with cancer. Callaghan said she reworked the market and named it the Artisan’s Showcase market.
“We just wanted to keep everything going,” Callaghan explained. “We wanted to leave a legacy for her, our way of saying ‘We’ll miss you this year.'”
The event will run Nov. 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre with 165 unique vendors, including returning vendors and newcomers.
In memory of Burnham, they will have a Tree of Hope with hand made angels from one of the vendors.
“People can pick them up by donation, and we’ll give the money to the Hospice House,” Callaghan said.
She remembers Burnham as a powerhouse, someone who was kind to everyone and found joy in every aspect of life.
“She was full of life, and that’s what she’s given me, have fun with what I’m doing,” Callaghan said. “Being an artisan, there’s so much talent out there in local people that we don’t realize.”
For more information on the market, click here.
All Get Involved Stories
