Signe Langford is moving the makers' market she organizes into Port Hope's downtown Memorial Park every Thursday this summer with hopes of it appealing to both locals and visitors alike.
Langford has run indoor markets at the Lions Club when the weather calls for it and last summer was set up outdoors in nearby Lent Lane, but combined with free concerts Thursday evenings, she hopes the move to the park will creative a festival-like atmosphere every week through the summer.
“With it being Thursday late afternoon into evening, I think this would be a fantastic way for folks to maybe have a long weekend here. Start the long weekend on Thursday and come in from Toronto or wherever you are and book a hotel, book an inn, book an AirBnB - there’s so much to explore,” Langford said, noting it would take a couple of days minimum to explore what Port Hope and Northumberland County has to offer.
The Market in Memorial Park, which begins July 6, will offer plenty of food, crafts, and arts and will coincide with the Road to Cultivate free concert series in the park during the evening. Vendors, youth entrepreneurs along with charity and community groups are being sought for the market.
Langford said she already has about 20 vendors lined up, though they have the option of how many weeks they choose to attend. She suggested not having the same vendors weekly will keep visits fresh for those attending the market. The cost for vendors is $40 for each week they attend.
“Unlike a lot of markets, what I have found works is that I don’t demand that the vendors commit to the whole season,” Langford remarked. “It’s a bit of an awkward time, Thursday afternoon. A lot of people who you find at farmers’ markets, that’s their side hustle, they have full-time jobs, and so that’s why weekend markets work so well for them, but I’m trying something different.”
There will also be complementary space offered for charities and community outreach. Langford said the market will also be showcasing the talents of youth, known at the market as Kidpreneurs, 16-and-under who can book a spot for $10.
“There’s a lot of young kids who are into crafting or into upcycling,” Langford said. “At the market last summer I had a kid who made his own homemade play dough and sold it to other kids. There’s a lot of creativity…I mean lemonade stands are great and if a kid wants to come and do a lemonade stand we would love that but lots of kids are thinking beyond the lemonade stand, too, and that’s kind of neat.”
The hours for the Market will be 3:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays from July 6 to Aug. 31.
Anyone interested can contact Langford at langfordsigne@gmail.com or check out The Market in Memorial Park on Facebook.
Listen to the full interview with Signe Langford here: