There are umpteen craft fairs taking place on the Island this time of year, but one with the most staying power and of particular attention to foodies is the Out of Hand Artisan Craft Fair, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, November 29th to December 1st at Victoria’s Crystal Garden.

Fair Founder Ramona Froehle-Schact has placed a greater emphasis on food at the fair for the past few years and this year is no exception. If you haven’t been to Salt Spring for a while you likely haven’t had a chance to try the fantastic offerings from Melanie Mulherin at Simply Salty Kitchen. Try her candied jalapeños, I guarantee you’ll be hooked. Maison Cote has a great selection of herbs and spices in attractive packaging and has been an Out of Hand stalwart for the past 20 years. Here’s a list of who else you can expect there: