Shops / Festivals
Refugee and migrant-led gift festival returns
Handmade creations, live drawings and a selection of international flavours are some of the things visitors can expect at the second edition of the Global Gift Fest.
Created and curated entirely by refugee and migrant communities of Bristol, the one-day festival will return to Sparks in Broadmead on Saturday.
The festival wishes to provide a “meaningful alternative” to traditional Christmas shopping through its choices of unique gifts.
The festival returns for its secon edition to Sparks in Broadmead on Saturday – photo: Sinag Yuson
Awad Elmubarak, a 15-year-old who sold handmade pastries at the festival in 2024 and represented the city’s Sudanese communities, said: “I started a small business about a year ago; it was quite overwhelming doing all of it online by myself.
“The Sparks International Cultural Festival really helped me understand there’s more to business than online trading. I met so many people who gave me advice and encouragement.
“It built my confidence and helped me believe in my ideas.”
The free-to-attend festival hopes to celebrate Bristol’s cultural diversity while championing independent sellers.
Other than unique gifts, the festival will also have vendors serving food from several countries, including Mexico, India, Sudan, Colombia, Qatar, Ecuador and Venezuela.
Nabil, from Bristol Refugee Artists Collective, will run a free drop-in workshop between 12pm to 4pm on the day, teaching attendees to create and take home self-made pieces of festive bunting.
Other than this, visitors will have the chance to participate in portrait drawings, buy natural cosmetics and henna designs.
The second edition of Global Gift Fest runs from 11am to 6pm on Saturday at Sparks in Broadmead.
Main photo: Shamphat
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