Creative Candlez owner Darnyll Nitz speaks with a customer last year during a Something For Everyone Market held at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede. -- NEWS FILE PHOTO
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@mocranker
It’s been five long months of waiting, but the Something for Everyone Market will be returning this weekend.
Saturday will feature a one-day market, which will look quite a bit different than previous iterations of the event.
“We’re going to be outside on the midway this weekend,” said organizer Monica Kallis. “Gate 4 will be the entry and everything is going to be outside. There’s going to be one-way traffic.
“There’s going to be hand sanitizer at the gate and there’s going to be social distancing in place.”
Around 100 people will be allowed into the market at a time. Parking is free, as is admission into the market.
“Our markets are always free for everyone coming through our doors,” said Kallis.
There will be around 30 vendors Saturday selling a wide variety of goods. All of the merchants will be wearing masks or their will be a plastic barrier in between them and the customers.
“We love our vendors,” said Kallis.
“They do such an amazing job and they really showcase all of the talent we have locally.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep everyone safe on Saturday.”
After so many months of uncertainty, Kallis says she is happy to have the markets back.
“We’re so excited,” she said. “I can’t wait to see all of the people come in and to see our vendors again.
“It really is like a family – I’ve missed everybody.”
Kallis says the ongoing pandemic has put a spotlight on how important it is to shop locally.
“It’s so important to get out and support everyone you can,” she said. “We need to support local, the small businesses, because they’re really suffering right now.”
Saturday’s event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be designated high-risk shopping for the first 30 minutes of the market, for seniors and those who are immunocompromised.
“Anyone with any health risks are welcome to come for the first 30 minutes,” said Kallis.
There is another Something for Everyone Market set for Aug. 8.
