Quick answer
Christmas fairs and church bazaars are held on weekends through December by parishes, schools and charities, especially in Colombo, Negombo, Wattala and Moratuwa. They sell Christmas cake, love cake, breudher, sweets, crafts and sometimes home-made milk wine and ginger wine. They are usually open to everyone. Find them through hotels, guides, parish notices and social media. Arrive early, as cake and milk wine sell out, and buy from established stalls with sealed bottles.
Key takeaways
- Christmas fairs and church bazaars run on December weekends.
- They are held mainly in Colombo, Negombo, Wattala and Moratuwa.
- Stalls sell Christmas cake, sweets, crafts and sometimes milk wine.
- Fairs are usually open to everyone and are friendly events.
- Arrive early and buy from established stalls with sealed bottles.
What a Christmas fair is
Christmas fairs, also called bazaars or sales, are fundraising events held by parishes, church schools, women's associations and charities in the weeks before Christmas. They are a long-standing part of Christian life in Sri Lanka.
Fairs are usually held in church grounds, school halls or community centres, on Saturdays and Sundays. They combine stalls, food, games for children and sometimes music or a raffle.
For visitors, fairs offer a relaxed, friendly glimpse of Sri Lankan Christmas, and a chance to buy foods that are otherwise hard to find.
- →Organisers: parishes, schools, charities.
- →Venues: church grounds, halls.
- →When: December weekends.
What is sold
The centrepiece of most fairs is food. Christmas cake, cut into squares and wrapped, is sold by the piece or in boxes. Love cake, breudher, milk toffee, kokis, coconut rock and other sweets fill the tables.
Some stalls sell home-made drinks, including ginger wine, often alcohol-free, and milk wine. Because selling alcohol requires a licence, milk wine is not available at every fair, and some sell it discreetly.
Crafts, decorations, second-hand books and plants are common too, along with snacks such as cutlets, patties and rolls.
Prices at fairs are usually modest, since the aim is to raise money for the parish or charity rather than make a profit. Many stallholders are volunteers who have baked at home, and they are often happy to talk about their recipes.
- →Cakes: Christmas cake, love cake, breudher.
- →Sweets: milk toffee, kokis, coconut rock.
- →Drinks: ginger wine, sometimes milk wine.
- →Snacks: cutlets, patties, rolls.
Where and when to find them
Fairs are most common on the west coast, where Christian communities are largest: Colombo, Negombo, Wattala, Ja-Ela and Moratuwa. Kandy, Galle and other towns have smaller ones.
Most run on weekends from late November to mid-December, with the busiest in the first two weeks of December. Some schools hold theirs earlier.
Find them through hotels, guides and Sri Lankan friends, parish notices, community groups and social media. Lankan Stays & Trails can help December travellers identify fairs near their hotel.
Buying milk wine at a fair
Arrive early, as Christmas cake and milk wine sell out quickly at popular fairs. Look for stalls run by parish associations or known home bakers, which tend to be the most reliable.
Check that bottles are clean, tightly sealed and clear, with no cloudiness or floating particles. Ask when the milk wine was made and what spirit was used. Most sellers are happy to talk.
Carry cash, as most stalls do not take cards. Prices for a bottle vary; where sold, a 750 ml bottle is roughly the price of a mid-range local spirit.
- →Arrive: early.
- →Check: seal and clarity.
- →Ask: when made, which spirit.
- →Pay: cash.
Fair etiquette
Fairs are family events, often in church grounds. Dress modestly, be friendly and patient with crowds, and ask before photographing people.
Do not drink milk wine at the fair unless it is clearly being served by the glass, which is unusual. Most bottles are for taking home.
Supporting the fair is part of the point. Buying cake or sweets, even if you cannot find milk wine, helps the parish or charity.
- →Dress: modestly.
- →Photos: ask first.
- →Support: buy something.
Christmas markets
In recent years, some Colombo venues have held Christmas markets with food stalls, crafts and gifts, often in the evenings. These are more commercial than church fairs and may include artisan food producers selling milk wine or clarified punch.
Hotels sometimes hold Christmas markets or open days too, with festive food and drinks.
Both are worth a visit, though church fairs remain the best place for traditional home-made milk wine.
- →Christmas markets: evenings, artisan food.
- →Hotel markets: festive open days.
- →Best for tradition: church fairs.
Frequently asked questions
When are Christmas fairs held in Sri Lanka?
Mostly on weekends from late November to mid-December, with the busiest in the first two weeks of December. Some schools hold theirs earlier. Dates are announced in parish notices, community groups and on social media, and hotels often know the main ones.
Can I buy milk wine at a church fair?
Sometimes. Some stalls sell home-made milk wine alongside Christmas cake and ginger wine. Because selling alcohol requires a licence, it is not available at every fair. Arrive early, as it sells out, and buy from established stalls with sealed bottles.
Are tourists welcome at church fairs?
Yes. Church fairs and Christmas bazaars are usually open to everyone and are friendly family events. Dress modestly, ask before photographing people and bring cash. Buying something supports the parish or charity running the fair.
Where are the best Christmas fairs?
Colombo, Negombo, Wattala, Ja-Ela and Moratuwa have the most, as these areas have large Christian communities. Kandy, Galle and other towns have smaller fairs. Ask your hotel, guide or Sri Lankan friends for current dates and locations.
What else is sold at Christmas fairs?
Christmas cake, love cake, breudher, milk toffee, kokis and other sweets, ginger wine, crafts, decorations, plants, second-hand books and snacks such as cutlets and patties. Fairs often have games for children and a raffle too.
How much does milk wine cost at a fair?
Prices vary by seller and bottle size. Where sold, a 750 ml bottle typically costs roughly as much as a mid-range bottle of local spirit, around US$8 to US$20. Smaller bottles cost less. Carry cash, as most stalls do not take cards.
Can I taste milk wine before buying at a fair?
Occasionally. Some stalls offer a small taste, but most sell sealed bottles to take home, and drinking at a church fair is unusual. If tasting matters, ask politely. Otherwise, choose a stall with a good reputation and check that the bottle is clear and well sealed.