Thursday – nice sunny day and the first opportunity for something new at the Oliver Country Market -
Light crowd, not a lot of vendors – will the new day attract more customers than before or more vendors. Should hours be changed?
See poll to the right
great points Dave thanks for sharing. I wont be attending as I work those hours. Hope the summer crowd come soon. I was walking around penticton yesterday and it was annual busking day, along with a car show, what a great atmosphere! The idea of drawing people with some live music seems to perk people up , perhaps a future thought again.
As a vendor, I would be happy to stay open until one pm, I will talk to the market executive and put forward this idea.
Dave makes some good points. I, for one, hadn’t thought about afternoon temperatures having such a negative effect on vendors or on the vegetables and fruit. It seemed like a good idea to combine the market and the music but perhaps the time of day isn’t so great after all. Thursday morning may be a better choice than I originally thought but perhaps organizers could compromise and stay open until 1 to give working people the opportunity to shop?
We had an afternoon market several years ago, it ran from 4.00pm untill 8.00pm and was quite well attended.
Trouble was the heat of the afternoon wilts the veggies and fruit (and the vendors) and baked goods sweat inside plastic wrappings. At that time the Music in the park was held under the trees, at the north end of the park, from 7.00pm until 8.00pm. Just before 7.00pm all the customers would wander to the music, leaving the market empty. The vendors were not able to leave before 8.00pm so stood for a whole hour doing nothing but sweat. At 8.00pm, the music stopped and customers then wanted to buy their goods, but complained that produce didn’t seem fresh.
The idea seems lovely, a country market accompanied by light music, what a perfect summer evening. The reality, tired vendors who were probably picking produce or baking at 5.00am and are exhausted and food past its best from sitting in the heat.
Having worked both morning and afternoon markets over the last few years, I would never again participate in an afternoon market. Sturday markets are the best way to go however, with competition for customers and vendors in Pentiction and Osoyoos, we were just not getting enough vendors to attend.
This year we have quite a few vedors who have applied to attend once their produce is ready and several new vendors applied for membership on Thursday.
The first market started off slow but by mid morning there was a steady stream of customers who seemed happy with the weather and the atmosphere. As vendors, we just want to put out a good product and to see the market grow. Once this season is over we will revue how active the market has been but, until then, give us a chance to make it a success.
An afternoon market is not a good idea and has been tried before, it is too hot for produce, some product and the vendors. Also when competing with the afternoon/evening music in the park, the music wins and the vendors stand around twiddling thumbs.
I understand more vendors are interested in attending when the tourists arrive.
Yup, all of the above, only 5 to 9 instead of 8.
here here for music and market
Awesome idea!! It will a real winner:-) for all concerned.
I also love the idea of combining the market and music in the park! They would each be a draw for the other.
Larry thats a great idea! Then people would have something to go and see in the evenings.
Later in the day makes a lot of sense to me – the current hours don’t cater to us working people at all.
I love that idea – music and market!
I completely agree with Larry. It would be a win-win compromise for both the market and Music In The Park.
I think a weekday market would work better later in the day, perhaps from 5 to 8 when most people are off work. Combine the market with Thursday’s Music In The Park and it would create a real draw.