By Dawn Deydey
Rotary Park is usually a hot spot for families aiming to have some fun in the playground.
Come Sundays though, Rotary Park comes alive with Mountain Market vendors filling the park on Sundays during the summer (Canada Day through the Labour Day weekend.)
The shade of the trees and the green grass is a great place for the whole family and an amazing variety of market vendors complete the package to add up to an incredible way to spend a day. This amazing combination is what has allowed this farmers’ market to grow to celebrate its 11th year, making the Mountain Market a part of the fabric of what a weekend in Fernie is all about.
Vendors start trickling in early Sunday morning to prepare for a busy day of market fun that starts at 10 a.m. and runs till 2 p.m. The Mountain Market is a BCAFM farmers’ and artisans’ market and features amazing artists, farmers, food tents and craftspeople from around Alberta and B.C. The usual market finds around 35 to 40 vendors setting up to sell their wares, with some vendors travelling up to three hours to join in.
July saw a slow start with many farmers missing the first few weeks. Many new artisans showed their wares at the market for the first time, along with some new food vendors including mini donuts, crepes and ribbon fries as well. During the month of August the IDEAL Society’s IDrum program will be hosting weekly drum jams. Also, Smokey Mountain Pasta is serving breakfast at the market throughout August, with a new crepe vendor from Cranbrook every second week. During the holiday weekends (August 4 and September 2) you’ll find the EcoGarden’s Garden2Market booth, featuring amazing local Fernie produce. August is also the month when the cherry farmers join in the fun, with fresh picked, locally grown produce that cannot compare.
You definitely don’t want to miss the festivities taking place on August 12, as the Market and Fernie Heritage Library are hosting the second annual BibBity BobBity Boo – Fernie’s Children’s Festival with live performances, arts and crafts, gold panning, sprinklers, bubbles, fire truck, the water table, face painting, music and so much more.
For more information about volunteering for the Children’s Festival or vending at Mountain Market events visit www.mountainmarket.ca