Market vendors positive about new Festival Square location

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on July 21, 2022.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Vendor Alisha Olinek fills a bag of dog treats at her stand in Festival Square during Wednesday's downtown farmers' market.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

After being moved to a temporary location because of construction, the Wednesday farmer’s market in Downtown Lethbridge is back in its old but improved location.

The third Wednesday farmer’s market, hosted by the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ under the auspices of Lethbridge Exhibition, ran Wednesday in Festival Square attracting strong crowds.

The renovated location drew high marks from vendors because of its ease of access, familiarity to market customers and its situation among other businesses which they say creates a better atmosphere.

Gail Butler of Raymond was among vendors who were glad to be back in the familiar space where the market stood before the COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on the market. While construction was completed on Festival Square, the market operated last year west of Galt Gardens.

Butler said COVID took a bite out of everybody’s business but added it’s hard to gauge how this year’s markets will go for vendors because each week is different.

Alisha Olinek said customers are “coming out more again” to support local business. Olinek, who is also a regular vendor at the Exhibition’s Saturday markets, said she feels the Festival Square location is “a lot safer.”

Thanks to COVID, a couple of vendors said while people were looking, not all were actually buying which they attributed to inflation and the impact the pandemic had on personal finances.

Terry Neilson of the Exhibition said plans are to have musicians perform at the market “eventually.” She said the re-imagined space is more festive.

Numerous booths supplying everything from fresh vegetables to dog treats were at Wednesday’s market.

The Festival Square market, hosted by the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ, runs until Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. weekly.

The Saturday farmers market runs through Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the North Pavilion.

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