The first outdoor market for the Estevan Downtown Business Association is slated to happen Thursday night.聽
The market will run from 6-9 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Royal Bank of Canada. The 300-block of 12th Avenue will be blocked off. Merchants will need to remain until 9 p.m. 聽
It is hoped that these markets can be a weekly occurrence. 聽
Josh LeBlanc with the Downtown Business Association said they have about 25 vendors registered already, and they have continued to receive applications. Bakers, artisans, local business owners and much more will be offering their products for sale.
People can also look forward to food trucks and entertainment that will be courtesy of the Ross LeBlanc Trio. The business association is looking for more bands to perform. 聽
There has been a lot of interest in the markets already, he said. 聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e very confident and excited to get things going,鈥� said LeBlanc.聽
The market will meet all public health requirements. There will be arrows on the ground that people need to follow, and social distancing requirements will be in place. Vendors won鈥檛 be allowed to offer free samples, but customers are able to purchase their food. 聽
LeBlanc hopes that people will check out some of the downtown merchants聽while they are at the downtown market. All of the stores will be open, and he hopes that people will also visit the restaurants in the downtown area.
He stressed these markets won鈥檛 be in competition with the Estevan Farmers鈥� Markets, which will have their first sale of the year on Saturday morning at the Estevan Shoppers鈥� Mall.聽
The downtown market on Thursday will have some similar vendors to the farmers鈥� market, but it will be a largely different group.聽
鈥淭he list that I鈥檓 looking at really aren鈥檛 people that I鈥檝e seen at the farmers鈥� market, so that鈥檚 good to see, that there鈥檚 a completely different offering here,鈥� said LeBlanc. 聽
They just want to offer something different for the people of Estevan, provide something else to do, and bring people to Estevan鈥檚 downtown area.聽聽
