How'd you like to populate your Christmas feast with local, artisanal goods to make your relatives impressed and your in-laws floored? Carriageworks is bringing back its Christmas Market, where you can buy fresh seasonal produce just a couple of days before Christmas. Importantly, you can also buy gifts just days before the big day — because we know what you're like.

Taking over Carriageworks on the evening of Wednesday, December 23, the market will go all Christmas with a cornucopia of the spoils of more than 70 of Australia's best producers, restaurants and designers — think homemade plum puddings, succulent hams, fresh cherries, smelly cheeses and more.

Expect the best from the weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market and more, including Christmas hams from Linga Longa Farm and Melanda Park (you'll need to pre-order these), cherries from Kurrawong Organics and Drive In Orchards, mince tarts from Flour and Stone and GF baker Nonie's, oysters from Mimosa Rock, floral beauties from Jonima Flowers and much festive beer from Wildflower and Yulli's Brews.

Plus, there'll be plenty more joining the party — so expect to see wine from Eloquesta, truffles from Hartley, cured meats from LP's, desserts from Saga and fermented goodies from Cornersmith.

This year, in a bid to keep the capacity COVID-safe, the market will be ticketed, with festive Sydneysiders required to register for a one-hour shopping slot between 4–8pm. Registrations will open on Tuesday, December 1.

It's an exciting end to the year for the embattled multi-arts precinct, which was saved from voluntary administration by a multimillion-dollar lifeline, thanks to a group of philanthropists, back in July.

Carriageworks Twilight Christmas Market runs from 4–8pm.

Images: Jacquie Manning