Markets liven up Hawera Friday nights
An Aucklander who moved south is starting a Friday night market in a bid to liven up ‘‘happy Hawera’’.
‘‘It’s the old-fashioned Friday night collective.’’
Organiser Jacqui Francis said it was an experiment she hoped would pay off.
‘‘Everyone’s been pretty positive and so far I haven’t had any road blocks,’’ she said.
‘‘I think it’s a really nice little spot.’’
Francis will hold the markets once a month in the Hawera Town Square and the first is planned for Friday, October 21.
If successful, she hoped to hold them more frequently but accepted it building interest would a time-consuming process.
She said they would be open to almost any kind of stall, although she dislikes the term ‘‘flea market’’.
‘‘There’ll be a little bit of everything, baby clothes, kitchenware, there might be some furniture, all the craft markets,’’ she said.
‘‘It’ll be farmers’ market and a flea market/car boot sale.’’
Francis has also planned live music.
‘‘It’s an opportunity for the one-off markets where people can have a bit of a clear-out of their kitchen and wardrobe and have a spring clean,’’ she said.
‘‘I want to have a charity each month that I will support.’’
A percentage of each night’s takings will be given to the chosen charity. The first one will be the Hawera Hospice Shop.
Francis hoped the town shops would stay open for the markets, from 4pm to 8pm, to encourage more shoppers to attend.
‘‘It’s really quiet on a Friday night and there really isn’t anything going on unless you’re going to a pub or the movies. I just thought it would be fun to have something outside,’’ she said.
She made the move to Hawera a couple of months ago.
‘‘This is such a lovely town, it’d just be so nice to have a happy evening event.’’
Francis moved here because she wanted to change her lifestyle, get out of a fast-paced city and enjoy life more.
‘‘Everyone smiles at you and I just think it’s such a lovely little place. I just want to be here and do my bit to try and give it a lift.’’
For more information contact Jacqui Francis 027 4820 982 or email jacqui.d.francis@gmail.com.