The Polish Hall on Pearl Street transformed into a vibrant showcase of creativity and community on Sunday, as more than 20 local artisans and small business owners took part in the Lunar Webb Halloween Market — a growing fixture in Brantford’s cultural calendar.
The family-friendly event combined handmade crafts, local food, and indoor trick-or-treating, offering a safe and festive experience for children and parents alike. Admission was free, drawing a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.
Building a Local Marketplace From the Ground Up
The market is the creation of Joshua Wall and Veronica Webb, two Brantford residents who saw a gap in opportunities for small creators to reach local audiences.
What began as a quarterly initiative has quickly grown into a monthly market, responding to what organizers describe as “remarkable” community demand.
“When we first launched, it was meant to be a quarterly series, but by popular demand we realized there was room for a monthly market,” said Wall.
“Many of our vendors don’t have storefronts, so this has become the next best thing. The community response has been incredible.”
Webb said the goal was not only to promote artisans but to foster a stronger sense of community connection.
“We wanted more opportunities for our vendors to come out and for families to have something special to enjoy together,” she said. “We like to support our community and we’re always raising money for different charities. One day, we’d love to be a staple of Brantford.”
A Platform for Local Causes
Each edition of the Lunar Webb Market partners with a local charitable organization.
This month, proceeds supported Kids Can Fly, a Brantford-based charity focused on early childhood development and family education.
Katrina Macri, chair of the board, said the event helps introduce the organization to new families and donors.
“Community events like this are so important,” Macri said.
“They give us a chance to meet people we might not reach otherwise, explain our programs, and connect them with our services.”
Volunteers from Kids Can Fly sold Christmas ornaments and raffle tickets to support programs such as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Roots of Empathy, and the Parachute Program for mothers and babies.
Macri also emphasized the importance of buying local.
“Shopping locally is vital, especially in today’s economy,” she said. “Supporting small businesses means strengthening our community.”
A Space for Emerging Entrepreneurs
The market also gave space to young and emerging creators such as Hannah Louden, the artist behind Metaphysical Art by HL.
“I started my business when I was 13, during COVID, as a hobby,” Louden said.
“I’ve always loved sparkly things, so jewellery was perfect for me. The community has been really supportive, especially toward young entrepreneurs.”
At a nearby booth, Doris Artner of HEALthy Self offered aromatherapy products and spoke about her journey from personal healing to helping others.
“I was going through a difficult time and found that Reiki and aromatherapy really helped me,” she said.
“Now I use those same tools to help others. Markets like this are invaluable because they give visibility to what we do.”
Growing Momentum
In just a few months, the Lunar Webb Market has become one of Brantford’s most popular recurring community events, regularly filling the Polish Hall with residents eager to connect, browse, and buy local.
“Every event brings out people eager to support our vendors and uplift our nonprofit partners,” Wall said.
“That’s what makes it special.”
As the Halloween edition wrapped up, visitors left with handmade goods, a few sweet treats, and a shared sense that local entrepreneurship — much like the city’s creative energy — continues to thrive.
