The spotlight was on local producers on Wednesday, as the day marked the first Downtown Lethbridge Farmers’ Market of the season.
The event, co-produced by Excite Lethbridge and the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ, and presented by 94.1 CJOC, was held in Festival Square.
The free market will occur weekly on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Aug. 26.
Manager of event development for Excite Lethbridge, Kaira Cale, said the event brings a special kind of feeling to the downtown core of the city.
“I think this is just a great way to have a vibrant experience downtown during the work week. It’s always exciting to see our local businesses features, as well as the Downtown BRZ activated,” she stated.
Cale added that the market offers a prime opportunity for local producers to showcase their products and services.
“Lethbridge is full of amazing vendors,” she said, noting the Lethbridge market is an Alberta-approved market.
This means at least 80 per cent of available items are made, baked, or grown in the province. “We are really, truly showcasing some of the best vendors in southern Alberta.”
Cale said they have spots for 30 vendors each week, and demand for space is high, highlighting the popularity of the event for not only shoppers, but the vendors themselves.
“I think there’s maybe one or two markets where we have one or two booths left, so we’re almost fully sold out for the downtown market season,” she explained.
Cale said attendees can pick up produce, as well as crafts, jewelry and other treats.
She added the downtown market is a “great way to kind of dip your foot in as a vendor”.
SATURDAY MARKET
For those who cannot attend the Wednesday market, there is a Saturday Farmers’ Market, presented by the UFA Foundation.
That series began on June 13 and takes place at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre until Oct. 17. There will be no Saturday markets on Aug. 15 and Aug. 22.
Those interested in getting involved in the markets can visit the Excite Lethbridge website.
