A proposed Sunday market in Summerland has the potential to bring plenty of business into the community.
The markets will begin in late June and will continue to late September.
The potential economic benefits are worth the efforts.
Anyone who has spent time at the Penticton Farmers’ Market on a Saturday can see the advantages of a downtown street market on the weekend.
The Penticton market draws an assortment of vendors and attracts many customers to the area.
While Summerland already has a weekly market, the weekend market will accommodate those customers who cannot attend the Tuesday morning schedule.
Summerland has worked with downtown markets in the past, on Victoria Road on Friday evenings. While these markets brought some customers to the downtown area, the Sunday time slot will likely prove more convenient for customers who work on weekdays.
Summerland has held special weekend market events in the past. In the 1990s, the community held a series of one-day weekend festivals on Main Street in an attempt to draw customers to the downtown area. These events were well attended and became important attractions for the community.
When customers come to browse the vendor booths at a downtown market, they will also take the time to check out the stores, restaurants and coffee shops. This is an immediate benefit for the downtown businesses.
In addition, the markets can help to raise the profile of the downtown area as a whole.
Summerland’s existing downtown businesses, as well as small and seasonal businesses, deserve the opportunity to showcase themselves through a regular weekend market.
By working together, the vendors and businesses involved will be able to promote themselves and the community as a whole using this special event.