December is nearly upon us, and in the Southside there are a whole load of Christmas events already underway where you can support local businesses and find plenty of festive spirit. Where are the Christmas markets and Christmas lights switch ons in Glasgow Southside? Read on to find out.

The Christmas decorations at the Transylvania Coffee and Shop on Victoria Road

By Devon McCole

The Christmas market season in Glasgow underway, and lots of people are looking for independent, ethical and affordable gifts to give to loved ones. The Southside has a host of community-focused Christmas markets and events this season, which kicked off with the My Shawlands Festive Fun event on November 17.

Event organisers were keen to make the event free and accessible, as this winter will no doubt be tough for many who are struggling to keep up with the cost of living.

Starting from 4pm members of the community were welcomed into the open market to explore the stalls run by local businesses. A whole host of independent Southside business owners were in attendance, including G41 Art Space, Quantum Health, Make & Grow and more.

This winter, people and businesses are under immense pressure to survive alongside the rising prices. The Festive Fun organisers wanted to create something that would not only help small business thrive, but something that would lift the spirits of those within the community by bringing both together.

Lisa McLaughlin, head of the My Shawlands Business Improvement District, spearheaded the Festive Fun event.

She said: “This is really just a way of getting everybody in the mood for the holidays and to cheer the community up, to get them thinking about Christmas and hopefully supporting the local businesses while they do.

“This is a really friendly area, everybody is welcoming, and I think it’s quite nice to get out of the city centre and be somewhere that’s got more of a neighbourhood feeling. Because there are lots of quirky, independent businesses that you don’t get elsewhere and that’s really what we are trying to promote.

“The local community is supportive, and community is the most important thing. I think without community so many things wouldn’t happen. We are a Business Improvement District, but we work really closely with the different aspects of the community and we found that, although we are working with different groups, we really all want the same thing. We all want Shawlands to thrive, and we all want people to feel safe and enjoy living, working and shopping here.”

Other Southside Christmas markets and events coming up

Govanhill Christmas Lights Switch On

Where: Millenium Square, next to Larkfield Community Centre, 39 Inglefield St
When: 7pm, 29 November

An event for all the family, there will be a face painter from 6:30pm as well as a performance by the choir from Hollybrook Academy School Choir. Tea and coffee available to keep warm. The lights will be switched on at 7pm.

Locavore Organic Christmas Market

Where: Locavore, Victoria Road
When: 3-7pm, 3 December

Locavore, winners of the best shop prize at the BBC Food & Farming Awards will be hosting their very own Christmas market on 3 December, in-store on Victoria Road.

As a social enterprise, Locavore will have on offer organic foods, including turkey and a variety of vegetarian and vegan products. All of which is available to pre-order online for collection and is included in the selection of organic hampers and cheese boxes, the perfect gift for the ethical consumer this Christmas.

The market will also have a range of locally sourced treats, ceramics and homewares and, If you are still on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree, Locavore have also promised live and cut Christmas trees for sale.

Santa’s Walkthrough Christmas Grotto

Where: Larkfield Community Centre, 39 Inglefield St
When: 6pm, 13 December

This is a ticketed event, but tickets are free if you pop into the centre before the event to collect - between 10am-4pm. All children will receive a small gift.

Southside Fringe: Christmas Makers Market

Where: Shawlands Arcade
When: 12-5pm, 3/4, 10/11 and 17/18 December

The Southside Fringe returns this winter with their festive Christmas Makers Market. The free event kicked off on November 26 and will run every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) from 12pm to 5pm until December 18.

The organisers have paired up with G41 Art Space, who will host the event in Shawlands Arcade, along with local artists and makers who will be selling their quirky products and pieces.

The event aims to support creatives in the Southside by inviting them along to the open market, expanding the type of gifts usually on offer in the arcade at Christmastime, giving independents an open and accessible platform to promote and sell their goods.

Park Lane Christmas Market

Where: 974 Pollokshaws Road
When: 12-5pm, 3/4, 10/11 and 17/18 December

The monthly Park Lane Market embraces the holiday season with their festive edition on the first 3 weekends of December (3, 10, 17), from 11am to 5pm.

The market will pop up on 974 Pollokshaws Road, and boasts a range of boutique stalls, most of which are run by local businesses familiar to Southsiders. The market also features an inclusive festive food court with vegan friendly options.

This event is not ticketed and will be accessible to anyone looking to pick up locally sourced gifts for loved ones this Christmas.

This is Not a Craft Market - Festive Edition

Where: The Deep End, 21 Nithsdale St
When: 12-5pm, 3, 10 and 17 December

Rags to Riches’ are set to host their annual festive edition of This is Not a Craft Market on the first 3 Saturdays of December, from 12pm to 5pm.

The Deep End at 21 Nithsdale Road will host over 100 vendors and a number of local artists and makers. There will also be warming mulled drinks, festive food as well as music and other live performances to brighten the dark December weekends.

The market aims to support independent makers and small local businesses, and with such a variety of people and businesses involved in the open market, it should be the perfect place to pick up unique gifts.

Rumpus Room Festive Fundraiser

Where: MILK Cafe
When: 12-4pm, 17 December

The Rumpus Room Festive Fundraiser shop returns this year on December 17 from 12pm to 4pm.

The event will be hosted by Milk Cafe on Victoria Road and invites artists of all ages to sell their ‘wacky hand made stuff’ this Christmas. All are welcome to explore the space and save the date to buy some of the handmade goods, produced by Rumpus Room artists.

All funds made from the event will be split with the artists themselves and the studio in the name of supporting local makers this Christmas. So be sure to pop in and see the independently made goodies on offer.

Find out about these events - and more! - in our Christmas special print mini issue. Out later this week!