Today will be the final indoor session for the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market until the fall.
In a week’s time, the market will head outdoors as it will shift from its winter location inside Parkinson Rec Centre to the lot on the northeast corner of Dilworth and Springfield.
Things will kick off at 8 am on Saturday with a special opening ceremony featuring a number of local elected officials at 9 am.
“We're all so excited, I mean it's just something about being outdoors for a farmers' market, that just seems to be where we need to be,'' market coordinator Frances Callaghan told KelownaNow.
While the indoor location is a great solution during the winter, Callaghan says the feel is quite different when the market shifts outdoors and it shows with the crowds.
It also shows with the amount of vendors, as many of them prefer to be outdoors and don’t even bother being a part of the winter market at Parkinson Rec.
“A lot of people wait for the outdoor market to come back,” Callaghan explained, “vendors and customers.”
After a tough year for Okanagan crops in 2022, there is optimism that they will be a lot better in 2023 and it’s looking as though things are off to a great start.
“So far, things are looking good. Our farmers already have crops in the greenhouses,” noted Callaghan.
“(We’re) already seeing some herbs and greens coming to the indoor market so I think we'll have a better season starting this year for farmers.”
In addition, damage from December's cold snap is not looking nearly as bad as what was seen a year prior.
After opening day on Saturday, the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market will take place every Wednesday and Saturday through October from 8 am until 1 pm.
Callaghan says the market is back to full swing after a few slightly different years, which means there will be festivals, celebrations and kid zones coming back this summer.
She also told KelownaNow that there will be a Food Truck Rally at the market every Wednesday, which is brand new this year.
It will be made up sort of like a food court, with additional food trucks there to give market attendees and people who work in the area a chance to come grab lunch.
Also, we can’t forget about the downtown Kelowna Satellite Market at Kerry Park, which will begin on Father’s Day and happen every Sunday until Sept. 10.
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