Taylor Pendergraft of Pendergraft Farms was selling fresh, ripe fruit at last Wednesday’s Market on Main. This Wednesday will be the last Wednesday afternoon market of the season, but the Saturday markets continue well into September. Market on Main, as a true farmers’ market, only allows local produce and locally made crafts to be sold. (Richard McGuire photo)
The final Wednesday evening Market on Main of the season takes place tonight (Aug. 31) at 5:30 p.m.
The Wednesday markets run only in July and August, while the Saturday morning markets will continue well into September.
“This year it actually went really quite nicely,” said Wanda Haworth, advertising chair with Market on Main.
Haworth has been a regular vendor, who sells jewelry.
The Wednesday evening markets have been running since 2013, initially starting at Gyro Park. In 2014, the market moved in the middle of the season to Town Square next to town hall, where it has remained.
Wednesday markets generally have seen fewer vendors and less traffic than the Saturday markets, but Haworth says some people are still just learning that the Wednesday markets exist.
“There’s a lot that are still surprised that we do have a Wednesday market, but there’s a lot now that come to rely on it,” she said.
Often there are vendors on the Wednesday who don’t come on the Saturday, she added.
Haworth said the Wednesday market got off to a good start this year, though in recent weeks participation has dropped off.
“You can never tell from week to week,” she said, adding that with tonight’s market being the last one and just before the long weekend, the numbers may pick up.
“We still have a lot of produce,” she said. “We’ve got tons and tons of artisans that bring beautiful handmade pieces.”
The Wednesday market opens around 5:30 p.m. and runs until around dusk, which lately has been about 8 p.m., Haworth said.
Like the Saturday markets, the Wednesday evening markets also feature live music, typically by local musicians.
Asked if Market on Main plans to do anything differently with the Wednesday markets next year, Haworth said there could be changes, but these will be determined at the general meeting.
“We may be changing things up a little bit,” she said. “We are talking about all kinds of surprises for next year.”
Unlike some markets, Market on Main is a true farmers’ market, meaning that only local produce and locally made crafts are sold.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Chris Stodola was belting out popular songs as he played the keyboard at last Wednesday’s Market on Main. Stodola is the former publisher of the Osoyoos Times. (Richard McGuire photo)
