Let’s face it, your dad doesn’t want another three-pack of navy socks, gardening gear or a hardware store voucher he’ll likely lose. He wants food and lots of it.  

Thankfully, the crew at the Old Bus Depot Markets are stepping in to save you from your own lack of gifting inspiration with a Father’s Day Market packed with local makers, handmade gifts, gourmet treats and plenty of excellent things to eat.

The Way to Dad’s Heart is Through His Belly 

Some dads are hard to buy for. Very few are hard to feed. 

This year, skip the shopping centre scramble and head to Kingston instead. You can wander the stalls with a coffee in hand, browse local makers and pick up something that feels a little more thoughtful than a last-minute panic buy. 

Think unique hot sauces that pack a serious punch, artisan cheeses, fresh local produce, and cured meats that will make his Sunday afternoon grazing board look like a work of art. And if he’s got a sweet tooth, the regional bakers and chocolate makers have you covered.  

The more we talk about it, the more we realise it’s the kind of shopping trip where you’ll end up buying “one for Dad, two for me.”

 

Make A Morning Of It 

For more than 30 years, the Old Bus Depot Markets have been one of Canberra’s favourite Sunday rituals. The old industrial space is busy, warm and a little rough around the edges. Plus, there’s also something genuinely cathartic about stopping to chat with the people who baked the bread you’re eating, made the sauce you’re taking home or crafted the piece you’re picking up. 

And beyond the snacks, you’ll find gifts of all kinds. Think unique leather goods, local art, grooming products, hand-carved woodwork and plenty of things that feel a bit more thoughtful than another voucher. 

 

A Big Bonus 

If food and handmade gifts aren’t enough, how about the chance to win a prize for Dad, or for yourself if you’re feeling cheeky? 

In the lead-up to the big day, every purchase made with stallholders gives you an entry into the Father’s Day Prize Draw. 

The local makers are donating prizes from their own stashes, with the lucky winners drawn on Father’s Day itself. So that jar of relish, handmade candle or block of chocolate might just help secure your spot as the favourite child.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 

Location: Old Bus Depot Markets, 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston 

Dates/Times: Sundays, 9:00am to 4:00pm 

Ticketing/Booking: Free entry  

Find out more HERE