Market Fair Attracts Big Crowds
Sunday, September 1, 2013 @ 5:22 AM
City Hall provides the backdrop for the first Market Fair in Prince George. Photos 250 News.
Prince George, B.C. – It would appear that the people of Prince George are solidly in favor of the establishment of a permanent marketplace in the downtown core.
Perhaps it was the allure of sunny, warm weather, maybe it was the paucity of interesting summertime activities and events in the city, or perhaps it was the combination of many factors. Whatever the case, the streets of downtown Prince
George haven’t been anywhere near as busy as they were Saturday for the first-ever Market Fair. When combined with the two Farmer’s Market locations on 6th and 3rd Avenues, throngs of people visited first one venue then casually strolled along George Street to the other locations (photo right) as they enjoyed the sunshine and the buzz of activity in the normally-deserted core of the city.
George haven’t been anywhere near as busy as they were Saturday for the first-ever Market Fair. When combined with the two Farmer’s Market locations on 6th and 3rd Avenues, throngs of people visited first one venue then casually strolled along George Street to the other locations (photo right) as they enjoyed the sunshine and the buzz of activity in the normally-deserted core of the city.
The idea behind the City Hall Market Fair is to provide a European-styled outdoor market featuring goods from diverse places around the world. If it turns out to be a hit, as certainly seemed to be the case this weekend, the thought is to hold the fair as least monthly, perhaps more often, from May to October each year.
Vendors selling all sorts of items set up shop on the front lawn and walkway at City Hall. They were marketing everything from ethnic foods to clothing, wooden housewares to woolen items. There were several jewelry stalls, others selling candles or sandals, health care products, tattoos, dietary supplements and tie-dyed shirts. As well there were kiosks set up by Welcome PG, the Canadian Cancer Society, Bear Aware and others. There was plenty for browsers to look at.
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Organizers wanted to make sure that the Fair did not detract from the two Farmer’s Market locations (above). What they were hoping to attract was people who have things other than grown or home-cooked products who, at the present time, have nowhere to market their goods and services. Judging by the steady stream of visitors to the Farmer’s Markets and the City Hall Market Fair, the experiment was quite successful. Depending on when you attended the various venues there were plenty of patrons to go around.
As well the setting at the convergence of George Street and 6th and 7th Avenues seems to have a town square feeling to it. The outdoor tables and chairs at a few of the business at the meeting of the roadways add to that ambiance. Throw in a few musicians, as was the case at the Market Fair, and it makes, in this writer’s view, for a pleasant visit and vastly positive improvement to that area of downtown Prince George.
Comments
“What they were hoping to attract was people who ….. at the present time, have nowhere to market their goods and services.”
I am a bit curious. If they really have nowhere to market their goods and service, did they all just start their business on Saturday?
Surely they were in business before Saturday and must be marketing their goods and services somehow.
Good luck next year when it’s a dollar an hour for parking!
Does the paid parking apply on Saturdays?? If it does then this whole concept is doomed.
I attended the Market Fair and thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Regardless of pay parking or not, many of us would return next year. A great atmosphere, and lots of potential for more multi-cultural food and wares, plus a great meeting place that enhances our downtown, while not deterring from the farmer’s market.
My wife and I spent two hours between the two produce markets, the Butler’s Pantry, and the Market Fair. We had a great time and will definitely attend again. If there was one element that detracted from the ambience, it was at City Hall in the Market Fair where a kiosk was set up celebrating diversity, I believe, with canned music blaring away. Surely, with all the talent in PG, the organizers could have come up with a few live musicians.
Great to see City Hall actually put to good use for a change! :)
You 3 at the top are so negative about everything. Who cares about $1 an hour for parking. Go down south where it is $10 to park. This needs to be done at least every other weekend. If you don’t like it don’t go, I’m sure you won’t be missed. It’s great to grow PG. It helps the downtown as a whole. When I am at the markets I visit other stores as well. I will be at the next one also. Even if they market their business somewhere else what’s wrong with expanding to attract more customers. They do it at trade shows all the time. We are having the 1st outdoors show soon does that mean business that have another store shouldn’t enter that.
Congrats, very nice event, aided by great weather. However I noticed that some of the vendors there, are regulars from the farmers market on 3rd. Therefore there were a lot of empty spaces at 3rd Avenue market. I think an effort should be made to combine the various locations. Maybe once the Civic Plaza is re-designed it could be utilized in the future years.
Loved being downtown on a sunny Saturday with hundreds of people enjoying themselves. Hard to criticize a great day when so many people seemed happy and content. Who cares about paying a pittance for parking in the future. Nice that we live in such a good place that people get all worked up about such trivial things.
These outdoor events are a great way to bring people downtown. It’s great to see products and services for sale that you don’t find in a big box store. It’s a great place to be around lots of other people with a common interest. It’s especially nice to support local business people in a condensed area rather than driving all around the city to find them in their normal environment. I support these types of events and look forward to the next one.
we need to weed the sidewalks and alleys.
If $1 to park is prohibitive for you to come downtown, then you’re probably not spending much in support of the markets anyway.
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