Markets in Canberra

Canberra’s weekly markets, at a glance

Canberra has a strong weekend market culture built on a handful of long-running farmers markets, a rotating arts and makers scene, and seasonal night markets. Most run year round, rain or shine, and the regulars know to bring a coffee keep-cup, a tote and cash for the smaller stalls. The events feed at the bottom of this page lists upcoming dates and one-off markets; this guide is the evergreen map.

Farmers markets

Capital Region Farmers Market at EPIC in Watson is the biggest in the ACT – every Saturday from 7.30 am to 11.30 am, with about 90 stalls and producers from a 150 km radius. Go early for sourdough, eggs and the best of the seasonal fruit. Southside Farmers Market at Woden runs Sunday mornings and is the closest equivalent for south-side suburbs. Haig Park Village Markets in Braddon run fortnightly on Sundays through the warmer months.

If you want producer-direct rather than a farmers-market format, the Choku Bai Jo shops in Curtin and O’Connor function as a daily farmers market, and the Pialligo strip on the airport side has direct-sale fruit, smallgoods and the long-running Pialligo Plant Farm.

Makers, arts and design

The Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston ran every Sunday for decades and remain the city’s best-loved makers market; the program has moved to a smaller schedule, so check the feed below before driving in. The Handmade Market at EPIC runs three big weekends a year (autumn, winter and pre-Christmas) and is the place for ACT-made gifts and ceramics. Trash & Treasure markets at EPIC fill the second Sunday of most months for vintage and second-hand finds.

Around the inner south, Manuka, Kingston and Forrest host smaller seasonal makers markets attached to community events; the live feed surfaces them when they’re on.

Night markets and seasonal markets

Through summer, the Westside Night Markets at the lake and the seasonal Asian street-food markets fill Friday and Saturday evenings. In winter, the Truffle Festival markets at EPIC and Pialligo are the calendar highlight. In spring, Floriade brings a daily food and crafts market to Commonwealth Park.

Pre-Christmas, the Handmade Canberra Christmas market and the Lifeline Bookfair at EPIC are the two biggest one-off weekends of the year – bring a trolley.

Practical tips

Most markets have eftpos at the larger stalls but not all, so carry $40–$60 cash. Parking at EPIC is free and abundant, Kingston Foreshore fills fast after 9 am, and the Southside Farmers Market has a short ground-floor car park plus the Westfield deck above it. Bring sun protection – most market spaces are exposed – and dogs are welcome at the open-air markets on lead.

What’s on this week

The feed below pulls the next two weeks of confirmed market dates from across the ACT, including pop-ups and one-off makers weekends. For broader weekend planning see things to do this weekend, or for free pairings see free things to do.