The Bridgman Open Air Market will reopen for the summer on Sunday, May 14. Market manager and founder Nick Schmidt tells us it started about six years ago, featuring locally grown produce, and took off.
“We actually started at a different location than we’re at right now with five vendors, and we’re now at somewhere between 35 and 50,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt says the market moved to the United Federal Credit Union parking lot on the corner of Lake Street and Red Arrow Highway after its initial success, and now features all kinds of goods.
“We’re really craft heavy. So, we have woodwork people, we have people that do crochet items. We have bakers, we have produce vendors, we have eggs. People sell tumblers with the vinyl stickers and stuff on them. Painters. I mean, you name it, you’ll probably find it at the market. We have some of the most talented people in in the area.”
The market will have special events this year.
“This year we’re also going do one that we started last year, which we call our Makers Markets, where for the whole month of September, every Sunday will feature several of our crafters or artisans that will sit down and will instruct people how to do the craft that they do.”
They’ll also have a Kids Day, an Adopt a Pet Day, and a Halloween celebration. Schmidt estimates around 1,000 people walk through the market each Sunday.
“The biggest attraction to our market is the fact that we have such a variety and that everything is local and everything you buy at our market is going to be grown or made by the person behind the table,” Schmidt said.
The market will be held each Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Barring severe weather, it’s rain or shine. Schmidt recommends people stay up to date on the latest market plans at its Facebook page, Facebook.com/BridgmanOpenAirMarket.
