There’s a new market launching in Grand Forks this weekend, one that is hoping to attract the family crowd.
The Travelling Rainbow Market is launching on Saturday, in time for Father’s Day weekend. The market will run 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday this summer, but organizers are hoping some added twists will encourage crowds to come out.
There will be farmers, crafters and entertainment, and organizer Sofi Estrada is hoping the market will encourage more families and young people to not just attend the market, but spend some time.
“We hope it will be better for people that work,” Estrada said. People can expect live entertainment and music each Saturday, as well as a children’s activity tent.
The market is aiming to have around 30 vendors, including farmers, “up-cyclers”and other crafters. The focus will be on natural products wherever possible, and there will also be onsite massage and morning yoga sessions.
“It’s not just shopping,” said Hailey Bekker, who is also involved in the organization of the market. “People can come and hang out, enjoy the entertainment. It’s about fostering some unity in the community.”
There will also be several themed market days throughout the summer, including flea market days, the first of which will be on June 23. For those themed days, vendors will be coming from out of town, including, in one case, as far as Vancouver.
“We hope to bring the people out,” Estrada said. “Young working people, young families.”
The group has also been working on assembling a board, and is in the process of filing under the Societies Act as a non-profit organization.
The market will run each Saturday from June 16 to September 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Gyro Park. They can be found on Facebook at The Travelling Rainbow Market or online at thetravellingrainbowmarket.weebly.com.