Though the quota for jewelers is full, The Park Silly Sunday Market organizers are still looking for other vendors to man the remaining booths for its upcoming second season, which begins June 15.
“We were inundated with jewelry applications and sold out of those spaces by the end of March, (but) we will continue to accept applications for all other categories throughout the season,” explains Jewels Harrison, who programs the market’s vendors. “We really look for vendors who represent and provide something for the diverse customer base that attends the Park Silly Market But (we) encourage those interested to do so as soon as possible as the dates are filling quickly.”
The market is preparing for an expanded, eclectic new year with a few new rules. New categories for participants with different prices have been added to satisfy a broad range of vendors (the cost of a booth ranges from $50 to $225); the hours have changed to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to accommodate crowd flow (the 9 a.m. start time proved too early the market was packed at 3 p.m.); and extra room on 9th Street will be used in hopes of supplying a demand for more local produce.
“We’re Park City gals, so we’ve been very conscious and cautious that we’re listening to the community’s voice,” says Kimberly Kuehn, the market’s executive director. “I never wanted to compete with Volker’s Wednesday Farmers Market, but after 17 Sundays last year, it was clear that people wanted to buy produce on Wednesdays and Sundays.”
Kuehn stresses that it’s hard to have too many opportunities to buy local.
“With the economy being the way it is, it’s important for us to buy from regional farmers,” she explains.
The Park Silly Sunday Market is also working closely with the Historic Main Street Business Alliance to distribute the crowds from the North to the South end. To drive traffic up the street from the Market on Lower Main, Kuehn says they plan to redirect the Main Street trolley. “The trolley will start at the Sky Lodge and pump people through Main every 10 minutes, she explains.
Last year, the market attracted an average of 1,500 to 2,000 people weekly. According to a report from Park City’s Finance Department, from June to October the months of the market — total sales tax on Main Street in 2007 was up 16 percent from 2006. Total sales on Main Street for the entire year in 2007 were up 10 percent compared to 2006. Still, with a fresh start this year, and some refinements, Kuehn looks forward to even bigger year. “We feel last year was a huge accomplishment,” she says. “But it was just a beginning.”
For more information about the Park Silly Sunday Market and for details about how to apply for booths, visit parksillysundaymarket.com or call (435) 655-0994.