Second weekly Farmers Market planned for Stampede

The Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede is now giving Hatters two opportunities to do some shopping from Farmers’ Market vendors.

The group will be holding its first Market in the Park Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. at Carriage House, offering a wide range of local products.

“Market in the Park is something that we considered doing years ago,” said market co-ordinator Doreen Gunderson. “We just had no idea where we could do it.

“The Accommodation Association graciously sponsored the building of a roof over the patio on the Carriage House, and now we have a space where we can hold a market.”

The event will run every Wednesday until Sept. 12, with the exception of July 18 and 25 during the Stampede celebration. Gunderson says it is an event for everyone.

“It’s a great big space so young kids can run around and have a good time,” she said. “Parents can come out and have some wine or a beer and just have some fun as well.

“We’ll have stuff at the events that everyone is interested in.”

Gunderson says the events will be similar to the Saturday morning markets.

“It’s just like the Saturday markets, we’ve just given it a new name so people can tell the difference between the Saturday and Wednesday markets,” she said. “We did a survey at our markets last year and the public wanted more hours, but the vendors didn’t necessarily want to have their days extended.

“We figured having a new market on Wednesday would allow people to sleep in Saturday still, but then they can come out Wednesday after work, and this way they don’t have to miss out.”

The event will feature food trucks every Wednesday, rather than the usual Stampede concession being open.