03/17/2025
It’s with a heavy heart that we share our signature event, The Gilford Wintermarkt, will not be moving forward.
After so much energy, passion, and momentum, we had truly hoped this would become a lasting tradition.
The time, investment, and creativity that went into building Gilford Wintermarkt was nothing short of amazing. What started as a vision turned into an incredible, one-of-a-kind event—a magical, lakeside European-inspired holiday experience that brought together small businesses, artists, and makers from across Southern Ontario. It wasn’t just a market; it was a community, a destination, and an unforgettable experience.
The Gilford Eatery has decided to move forward with their market series again, under a new direction with an internal team. The Gilford Wintermarkt as we know it under the umbrella will no longer be part of their plans. If you’re interested in being part of their future events, we encourage you to reach out to them directly for details.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who made Wintermarkt so special—the talented vendors, our generous sponsors and partners, our stunning venue, the student volunteers, and the incredible entertainment that brought the event to life. I’ve always said that makers make the market, and you are nothing short of amazing!
It’s wild that in only our second year we attracted thousands of visitors, vendors sold out, we were featured in local and Toronto media several times as a must see market destination. We’re going to miss the connections and vibrancy our market brought to the community, and to each other.
While this chapter closes, a new one is beginning. In addition to an exciting business venture, we’re thrilled to share that we’re planning something special for spring 2026—something fresh, exciting, and just as rooted in community. Stay tuned—we can’t wait to bring people together again.
If you have a favorite Wintermarkt memory, we’d love to hear it! Drop it in the comments and let’s celebrate the magic we created together.
Thank you for believing in this market and being part of our journey. ❤️
