Written by Ben Cox – The Artisan Market is back this weekend with more vendors than ever and several new events as well.

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This weekend, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. the Artisan Market will hold it’s kickoff weekend for the new fall season, after being postponed last weekend due to inclement weather.

New this season will be a series of contests at every market, open to anyone who would like to enter. Rebecca Morelock, who runs the Market, says “This weekend is going to be a fall-themed muffin and cupcake contest. It’s open to the entire community, there’s no fee, no registration. The award will be gift cards to the Market itself.”

A costume contest closer to Halloween, art contests, pumpkin carving and other themes will present during the course of the 6 week season. There will also be a rotating panel of judges, “this weekend’s judges will be City Hall. We’d like to get the Chamber and a few others as well.” Executive Director of Economic Development Ray Tipton, City Manager Emily Crawford and Public Information Officer and Assistant Director of Economic Development Marshal McIntosh will be the judges for this weekends Market contest.

This season also sports the largest selection of artisans to date, with 40 vendors signed up to showcase and sell their handmade items. Morelock says “That is up from 25 last year. They’re all artisan vendors, we are very strict about that. But it blows me away that there are that many signed up and ready to come out.”

The inclusion of a food truck prompted the change to the hours this season. Normally closing at noon, this is the first season so go into the afternoon to allow for the inclusion of the food truck. Morelocks says “I hope people stop and try the food, it is amazing!” 

The Artisan Market is held in the open lot next to St John’s Church on Main.

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