Downtown Courtenay Evening Market starts next Thursday

A block of downtown Courtenay is set to play host to fabulous local farmers and producers, talented artists, unique local products and – most of all – a tonne of fun for one evening a month throughout the summer.

The inaugural Downtown Courtenay Evening Market takes place Thursday, June 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. Upper Fifth Street between Fitzgerald and England Avenues will transform into an open-air market and become THE place to be on the third Thursday of each summer month from June to September.

The evening market is the result of collaboration between the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association (DCBIA), the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market and Elevate the Arts. The objective is to create a new event that unites the community and celebrates the Valley’s wonderful people, produce and talent.

“We’re all extremely excited about this first-ever night market,” says Jenny Deters, vice-president of the DCBIA. “It’s something the DCBIA has wanted to do — and has been asked about — for years, and it’s been a large undertaking. Being able to partner up with these other successful, supportive organizations has finally allowed us to do it, and we couldn’t be happier!”

Hot on the heels of the successful Elevate the Arts event and just in advance of the ever-popular Wednesday morning Farmers’ Market and the DCBIA’s 45th annual Market Day in July, the first-ever evening market is expected to take its place as another great addition to the already-vibrant downtown scene.

The city block will feature up to 40 booths evenly split between items that are sown and grown and those that are created and crafted. And like any good market, there will be music.

After receiving almost 500 likes in one week on the market’s Facebook page, it’s obvious that people are excited about the venture. Vickey Brown, executive director of the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market and co-ordinator of the evening market’s produce merchants, says response has also been swift and positive.

“It’s a nice chance for our farmers to join up with local artisans and create some good synergy,” says Brown. “For those of us in the farming community, it’s great to have another opportunity to increase accessibility to all the wonderful food and products cultivated in this region.”

While the booths are almost all spoken for, farm and food vendors can contact Vickey Brown at info@cvfm.ca. Interested artisan vendors are invited to apply for a space at www.elevatethearts.com/third-thursday-summer-night-markets. For information on the upcoming evening market, visit its Facebook page.