North London is positively drowning in a brandy-bath of Christmas fairs and markets this weekend.
Where to start? Well, for daytime Saturday fun, you could head to the seasonal fair for a very good cause at the Crossroads Women’s Centre, or again to Queen’s Crescent, looking festive with its twinkling firs, or perhaps The Grafton, for its last upstairs Xmas market.
On Sunday, up in Highgate’s Waterlow Park there’s the festive annual arts and crafts sale, but don’t miss Kentish Town City Farm’s jamboree too (right): with live music, pony rides, hot chocolate and the obligatory Santa’s Grotto, it’s deffo one for the Mini Kentishtowners out there. Plus there are cards designed by volunteers – a local artist, a vet and a graphic designer – which will be on sale to raise much-needed funds.
For the more sybaritic amongst us, tonight also sees the start of Camden Lock’s three-day festival of Night Markets. As well as all the independent shops open till 10pm, look out for seasonal spiced cocktails, a Camden Town Brewery pop-up bar, the very best of Camden Lock’s global streetfood vendors and an intriguing-sounding digital gift guide via the hashtag #ShopTheLock to help with any difficult-to-buy present dilemmas.
They’ve even gone and got a 3-day pop-up radio station, which sees a transmitter being strapped to the roof of the market and taking over the local airwaves – tune in on 87.7 FM to hear the likes Notting Hill Carnival ledge Norman Jay.
Elsewhere, the Disappearing Dining Club are running Too Much is Never Enough, a series of private dinners held in three snug, candlelit dining rooms. Expect mugs of mulled winter cider, pots of salt beef, mustard and gherkins, Brick Lane smoked salmon, black bean and smoked sweetcorn ceviche and a winter warming venison, juniper and allspice stew.
If that’s a bit too formal for you, having Honest Burger, cute tapas joint Hola Paella, Ruby Dock, French & Grace, Chin Chin Labs and all the other tasty bites in residence around the Lock’s cobbled yards is surely the, er, brandy butter on top of the ultimate Christmas shopping cake. Or something.