Rain
couldn’t stop the Midsummer Night’s Market
By MAGGIE
WILLIAMS
mwilliams@owentonnewsheral.com
Sharon
Lombardo watched the sky all day Friday, afraid the rain would
come, but neither rain nor heat nor gloom of night could keep
the crowds from last week’s Midsummer Night’s Market.
A venture growing out of the weekly Farmers’ Market, the
event was a huge success despite the bad weather, according to
organizers Patty Petzinger, Veronica Gayle and Lombardo.
“This
has come a long way,” Petzinger said. “We are really
trying to push the arts in this county.”
And it
seems they are providing something people want.
They decided
last winter that they would like to host an evening Farmers’
Market with music. With fresh produce, local artists, live entertainment
and inflatables, there was something for everybody.
Even when
the rain came, people stuck around. “I think the fact that
people came out in the rain says they want something to do,”
Roy Prather said. “People are not paying attention to the
rain.”
Having
the market in the evening made it possible for some people to
attend who wouldn’t normally, due to work commitments. “It’s
a nice change,” Prather said, “because people who
work can come out.”
Petzinger
said she was thrilled with the turnout and expects to organize
another similar event soon. Kim Strohmeier, county extension agent
for agriculture and natural resources, said that based on Friday
night’s turnout he wouldn’t be surprised to see another
evening market before the year is over. “This is the right
thing to do,” he said. “It’s providing something
for families, and hopefully the vendors will make something out
of it.”
Michael
and Nancy Boisseau said they “absolutely would come back.”
It is hoped
that through the farmers’ markets, people will become more
aware of the importance of buying local food and produce, Lombardo
said. “More people will make it possible for more farmers
to come out,” she said.
In addition
to supporting local farmers and artisans, Lombardo says Midsummer
Night’s Market was about giving the community an opportunity
just to “come together, to sit and talk. We are thrilled
that everybody is having a good time. With this kind of support,
we will be able to do it more often.”
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