There will be two evening street markets again in Qualicum Beach this summer with the expansion of the Wednesday farmers’ market and a new Thursday evening artisan market.
While the big Saturday morning farmer’s market will continue to run year round, the organization will also expand the Wednesday evening “top-up” market it started late last summer.
Town council approved the market from
4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in June through September on the same block of Veterans’ Way where the Saturday morning market can attract 4,000 people in the summer.
The farmers market will focus on food but expand to include some crafts and other vendors.
In a letter to council, market manager Mimi Shewchuk specifically said they completely support, and would work with, any other market that would like to operate in town.
At the same meeting Monday, council also gave conditional approval to a brand new artisan market organized by Jean Young of Arbutus Fashion and Lifestyle.
“As a long-time merchant in Qualicum Beach I am concerned with the perception that our town ‘dies after five,'” she wrote to council. “A vibrant downtown core attracts business and stimulates our local economy.”
She said there has been a hunger for the Thursday evening markets since one organized by the downtown business association was cancelled early last summer.
“An evening market with a variety of activities draws families and encourages tourism,” she wrote.
Council wanted more details on the costs and what might be expected from the city, but approved in principal a street market on the first block of Second Avenue, from Memorial to Primrose.
The artisan market will run 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays through July and August.
