Locals longing for a taste of the carefree lifestyle of up north are in for a treat when the Boho Luxe Market & Boho Luxe Bride hit the capital next weekend, 17-19 June.
Founder Dani Djokic says she grew tired of the regular market circuits which offered no music, inspiration, or atmosphere so she decided to start her own. The first Boho Luxe Market was held in Melbourne over a single day back in 2017, and right away, Djokic knew they were on to something special. Now the three-day event is heading to four cities across the nation, with Canberra being the latest to play host.
“We just thought Canberra was next on the list, not too far for a road trip for our Melbourne stall holders,” Djokic says.
EPIC will house the markets here in Canberra from Friday night. Guests who arrive from 5.15 to 6pm will be welcomed with a free sound healing, a practice that uses vibrations from musical instruments, such as drums, to relax and bring harmony to the body. Djokic hopes it will help to set the vibe for the experience and allow people to enter with an open mind. Free sound healings will also be occurring from 10.30am each day over the weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday, the experience begins before attendees get to the doors as live drumming performances outside the building will greet approaching guests. Once inside, the bohemian atmosphere springs to life.
Those looking to feed their soul will find peace in the psychic and wellbeing area; psychics from interstate will be offering readings all weekend. You don’t need to book your reading in advance, just turn up and see which reader draws you in.
Psychics aren’t the only soul nourishment on offer; a sound healing festival runs each day, while healing supplements and retreats will be on offer from stall holders.
Those looking to feed their stomachs can head to the picnic section to indulge in some of the delicious food trucks. Local favourite Super Bao have their Chinese-Australian delights, Jarochos will be serving authentic Mexican, while La Empanda has South American cuisine sorted. For adult drinks and sweet tooths, there’s Canberra’s Kombi Keg and Bungendore’s Mellabella Gelato.
On Saturday, you’ll be able to catch some of the designs from Melbourne label Sacred Circus with a fashion show. Djokic believes it’s important for people to see what clothes look like on bodies and not just on hangers and mannequins.
Inspiration is bountiful for the boho bride, with a giant tipi display set up from a Canberra region hire service, as well as beautiful wedding dresses and intricate accessories for brides wanting to add the perfect bohemian touches to their special day.
If you’ve ever wanted to live your boho queen fantasy, flower crown workshops are available, however spots are limited. Plenty of other workshops are happening over the weekend, with kids invited to join a free macrame workshop on Saturday morning and a dream catcher workshop on Sunday.
Local stallholders will join many from interstate in selling all kinds of bohemian inspired fashion, homewares, and treats. Below, we have compiled a list of our must see:
Canberra Region
Feist Tea Co: Organic, ethical and a delicious range of tea. feisttea.co
Honey and glow: Organic handmade honey products for your body and home. honeyandglow.com.au/
Deep blue ceramics: Beautiful handcrafted items for your home. They also do workshops! deep-blue-ceramics.myshopify.com/
Byron Bay
Kyoti Jewellery: Intricate jewellery and wearable talismans inspired by founder Jodee Collett’s world travels. kyoti.com.au
The Cork Shop: Vegan and sustainable alternative to leather bags, shoes accessories and homewares. Australia’s only cork store. thecorkshop.com.au
Cape Byron Distillery: A sustainable gin and whiskey distillery; we’ve heard Brookies slow gin is the go `to. capebyrondistillery.com/
Melbourne
Sacred Circus: Sustainable fashion made from all natural fibres; we love the soft pastels. sacredcircus.co/
The Perfume Workshop: Indulgent concentrated oils designed to activate your senses. theperfumeworkshop.com.au
Cheeky Rascal Cider: Australia’s first 100 per cent fruit blended cider, pineapple cider? Yes please! cheekyrascal.com.au/
Earth Healing Therapies for Pets: Vegan wellness alternatives for our furry friends. earthhealingtherapies.com.au
La sierra: Eco-friendly alpaca fibre goods handcrafted in Peru and Ecuador. lasierra.com.au/
Swede Little Things: Scandinavian reindeer leather accessories. swedelittlethings.com
The Boho Luxe Market & Boho Luxe Bride will run from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June at Exhibition Park; purchase tickets through the website boholuxemarket.com/
