The Ladner Village Market kicks off its 22nd season Sunday.
The popular event, which features a wide variety of vendors, local merchants and live entertainment, attracts thousands of visitors to Ladner Village each summer.
This year’s market is getting an infusion of fresh faces with 46 new vendors slated to take part over the course of the season.
“There’s a lot of newness coming into the market this year,” says Tracey McKnight, one of the organizers.
She notes some vendors have retired, many of which had been with the market since the beginning and helped it grow into what it is today.
The open-air market spans three blocks on 48th Avenue from Elliott Street to Delta Street and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The season consists of market dates on the second and fourth Sunday of the month from June through to August and the second Sunday of September.
With over 160 artisan vendors each date, the Ladner Village Market is one of western Canada’s largest open air markets.
Shoppers can look out for a range of items including art, pet products, kids’ clothes, food products, jewelry, beauty products and fresh produce (in great abundance by the third market).
Carnivorous plants will be at the first market only, McKnight notes.
Food trucks, including a mac and cheese truck, will be at the market later in the summer.
Veteran bluesman and Ladner Village Market regular Wes Mackey is scheduled to perform in the afternoon Sunday. Mackey, learned to play the guitar from “the seasoned old blues players of the South where he was born and raised.”
Mackey, who has more than 50 years in music under his belt, went from playing “the dusty honky tonks of Georgia” to performing around the world, including venues in Iceland, Russia, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Dance band Kokosoul will be playing tunes in the morning and has a wide ranging repertoire including recent pop and Top 40, Motown, classic rock, reggae, bossa nova and more.
Talented buskers will also be performing throughout the season.
The market still has openings for its vendor parking and street rep teams. If you are interested in volunteering, contact [email protected].
2018 Ladner Village Market Dates
June 10 and 24
July 8 and 22
Aug. 12 and 26
Sept. 9
