God Adventure Church launched its first-ever Christmas market in Quigney over the weekend, aiming to bring festive cheer, support local creatives and contribute to neighbourhood upliftment.
Led by pastor Corne and Jenni Pretorius, the event drew families, children and young volunteers for a day of affordable shopping, games and community connection.
Corne said the idea was driven by a desire to serve the neighbourhood.
“We are passionate about East London, but especially this particular community. There are many Christmas markets around the city, but nothing happening here in Quigney. We wanted to create something the community can take ownership of.”
The church partnered with the Quigney Ratepayers and Residents Association after being inspired by their ongoing work in cleaning up the area, promoting safety and encouraging revitalisation.
All proceeds from the R10 entrance fee will be donated to the association to support its improvement initiatives.
“They’ve been doing great work, cleaning up the streets, offering security, so we just wanted to contribute to that effort,” Jenni said.
One of the major attractions of the market was the children’s carnival, designed to offer children a safe and fun environment.
Jenni said the team wanted to create an inclusive space that families could enjoy without high costs.
“So many of the children who come to our church don’t have many places to go,” she said.
“We wanted something affordable and fun that keeps them off the streets but also to create a sense of community and family.”
The market saw strong youth involvement, with most volunteers being teenagers from the church. They assisted in managing games, supporting vendors and helping to create a festive atmosphere.
Despite the hurdles, the market succeeded in bringing new energy to Quigney and strengthening local connections, setting the foundation for future community events.
We wanted something affordable and fun that keeps them off the streets but also to create a sense of community and family
