🦫 The Townships Are Glowing: Inside This Year’s Christmas Market Boom

Hey there, Townshippers

Feels good to be back in your inbox. Another week in the Townships, another chance to take in the small joys that make this place feel special, the glow of Christmas markets, the buzz of local events, and a few community wins worth celebrating. Think of this as your Thursday catch-up: what’s happening, what’s worth seeing, and the stories that remind you why living here just works.

So grab a coffee (or a peppermint hot chocolate — no judgment) and let’s dive in. 🎄👇

Across the Eastern Townships, the weeks before Christmas have quietly become a kind of pilgrimage route, one stitched together by craft tables, mulled cider, and the soft glow of old churches and village halls. From Sutton to Sherbrooke, tiny and not-so-tiny marchés de Noël are popping up everywhere, each with its own flavour, its own makers, its own stories.

In Sutton, the annual market feels like stepping into a handmade postcard. Potters, textile artists, and maple producers line the room, and many return year after year. Their work is familiar, but the stories change, new glazes, new harvests, new neighbours who’ve joined the community. tourismesutton.ca

A short drive away, Sherbrooke’s Marché de la Gare transforms its boardwalk into a small winter village, complete with wooden kiosks, local food producers, and carollers drifting in and out of the cold. It’s one of the region’s longest-running markets, and many families treat it like a tradition on par with the Christmas tree. marchedelagare.com

But it’s the smaller markets, the one-day events in church basements, school gyms, and roadside barns, that truly define the season here. In Compton, the local heritage group hosts a market where the real draw is conversation: neighbours catching up, sharing jam samples, and swapping news about winter projects. In Eastman, artisans set up in the community hall with wool mitts, herbal teas, hand-carved spoons, and enough pastries to warrant a second visit. Listings are gathered each year by Eastern Townships Tourism, making it easier to plan a weekend circuit. easterntownships.org

What ties these markets together isn’t scale, it’s the sense that winter, rather than pushing us indoors, can actually draw us closer. Each booth holds something made by hand, often by someone whose workshop is just down the road. And every conversation, whether brief or lingering, anchors us more firmly to the region we share.

If you’re looking to feel plugged into the Townships this December, you don’t need a big festival. Just pick a market and wander. Chances are you’ll leave with something far better than a gift: a small piece of community, wrapped in the warmth of a winter morning.

🎨 Expo‑Concours 2025 — Thu, Nov 27 onward — Centre d’art Arts Sutton, Sutton: This annual group exhibition features around 60 local artists in a competition format. Visitors can enjoy diverse media (painting, sculpture, textiles, photo) and vote for the “People’s Choice” award. The opening reception is on Sun Nov 30 at 2 p.m. Details 👉 artssutton.com

🍰 Christmas Tea at the Merry’s — Fri, Nov 28, 2025 — Maison Merry, Magog: Join this charming heritage event at the oldest house in Magog, where the house is decked out for the season and the tour “Le Noël de Miss Florence” takes you through vintage Christmas traditions.  After the guided portion you’ll be treated to a tea service in period costume plus a tasting of sweet treats, perfect for a cozy start to the holidays. Details 👉 maisonmerry.com

🎤 André-Philippe Gagnon Remasterisé — Fri Nov 28 & Sat Nov 29, 2025 — Théâtre Granada, Sherbrooke: The legendary impressionist returns to Sherbrooke with his newly “remastered” stage show, blending sharp comedy, musical parodies, and the rapid-fire vocal impersonations he’s known for. Expect a polished production with new material alongside classic crowd-pleasers. It’s a high-energy night out and one of the region’s standout live performances this month. Details 👉 centrecultureludes.ca

🎁 Salon des artisans de Granby — Fri Nov 28 to Sun Nov 30, 2025 — Granby: Get into the Christmas spirit with this festive artisan fair showcasing decorative objects, soaps, jewellery, stained glass, metalwork, ceramics and wood pieces, perfect for local gifts and holiday décor.  Whether you’re browsing solo or bringing the family, it’s a cozy way to kick off the season and support craft-makers from the region. Details 👉 vccgranby.com

🎄Christmas Markets at the Farm — Sat Nov 29 & Sun Nov 30, 2025 — Zoo Animations Estrie: Step into a pastoral Christmas-market experience hosted on a beautiful farm setting: browse through artisan stalls, sip hot drinks, and enjoy live music amid winter farmland charm. Bonus: there’s a special kids’ area with hands-on activities so the little ones can join the festive fun too! Details 👉 easterntownships.org

📚 New Book Puts the Region on the World Map: A freshly-launched scholarly volume titled “Quebec’s Eastern Townships and the World: A Region and Its Global Connections” was celebrated at a November 7 panel that included contributors from Eastern Townships Resource Centre (ETRC) and the Institute on Quebec Studies of SUNY Plattsburgh . The book links our beloved region to global currents of migration, culture and economics. Source 👉 The Bishop’s Campus

🚰 Private Well Awareness Rising in the Townships: Home-owners in the Eastern Townships have been advised about potential issues with artesian wells and older private water systems, and municipalities are rolling out testing and awareness programs.  If you live rural-style, this affects you directly, healthier water, fewer surprises, and a chance to safeguard your home. Check what your municipality recommends. Source 👉 Century 21

🚌 Sustainable Mobility Gets Recognition: The joint bus service between the MRC de Brome‑Missisquoi and MRC de La Haute‑Yamaska launched August in-region was awarded a “Distinction” at the 2025 Environmental Excellence Awards for offering new inter-regional transit connectivity.  This means less driving, better links between towns and potentially fewer parking headaches. Source 👉 MRC Brome-Missisquoi

🏈 Bishop’s Gaiters Football Returning to the RSEQ: The Gaiters’ football program at Bishop’s University, has announced it will transition back to the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) for the 2026 season after spending eight seasons in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS). This move comes in response to rising travel and operational costs experienced in the AUS. Expect more exciting Sherbrooke vs. Bishop’s tilts! Source 👉 Bishop’s University Athletics

🏠 New Emergency Support Centre Coming to Cowansville: A new day centre, temporary shelter, and winter warming space will open in Cowansville thanks to Entrée chez soi Brome-Missisquoi and the Cellule Jeunes et familles partnership. The warming space launches December 1 on rue du Sud, while the full centre on rue Albert is slated for March 2026. Source 👉 Radio Canada Estrie

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Unpopular Opinion: Townships Edition

Time to stir the pot a little. What’s your one hot take about life in the Eastern Townships?

Maybe you think the real best poutine spot is never the one everyone argues about…

Maybe lake days hit harder in November than in July…

Maybe coffee does taste different the second you cross into North Hatley…

(or maybe that’s just the vibe talking).

👉 Hit reply with your spiciest Townships opinion — we’ll feature the boldest ones in next week’s issue.

That’s a wrap for this week’s edition. Whether you’re planning to wander a Christmas market, catch a show, or simply enjoy a quiet December weekend, we hope this newsletter helps you feel connected to the people and places that make the Townships home.

As always, we’d love to hear from you — hit reply, share your take, and we’ll feature the best of the bunch.

See you next week, neighbour.✌️

- The Eastern Townships Now team 🦫