Farmers and Artisans Market returns to Downtown

The Farmers and Artisans Market will be adding more vendors each week.

By Sarah Shurge – It’s an exciting time as the Farmers and Artisans Market has officially returned to Downtown Wayne.
The Market opened Wednesday, May 25th and will run through Wednesday, September 28th. It will be open every Wednesday from 3-7 p.m. in the lot next to The Notre Dame Hall on Wayne Road in Downtown Wayne.
The Market used to be at Goudy Park behind Wayne City Hall but this is the first year the Knights of Columbus Notre Dame Council 3021 wanted to get involved.
“This is something we’ve been wanting to do for a while but didn’t have the ability,” said Paul Sposite, Grand Knight of the Notre Dame Council. “It’s nice to bring it back in a more visible area. We have a great location and can offer the community a space to purchase items and entrepreneurs a space to sell their items.”
For those unaware of what a Farmers market or Artisans market is, it is a retail marketplace that typically consist of tables, booths, and stands where farmers or artisans directly sell their products to consumers.
Items typically sold at the Market are fresh produce, baked goods, jams, sauces, hand-made crafts, one-of-a-kind items, and much more.
“This is our first year attempting it so we’re figuring it out as we go. It’s going to be like a Farmers Market but more,” said Sposite. “We want this to be more than just shopping and leaving. We want people to come and stay during the whole event.”
The Notre Dame Hall has an outside seating area for food and drink during the event and Sposite said they plan on having lawn games and would like to have live-entertainment.
“It’s just another way to give back to the community by providing a family friendly activity every Wednesday,” said Sposite.
The Knights have been thinking about hosting the market since last year but Sposite pitched the idea to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in the beginning of January, and has been working on promotion and every aspect of coordinating the event since then.
The Knights are still actively seeking vendors, farmers, artisans, and entertainment for the market. If you have something you would like to sell, visit notredamehall.com and click on the “Wayne Open-Air Market” and download the 2022 Vendor Application. If you have a guitar or musical abilities and would like to play or sing during the market, contact Sposite at gk3021@mikofc.org or by phone at (734)748-3771. You can call Sposite if you are interested in selling something as well.
“Please help make our first year a success,” said Sposite. “I’m looking forward to involving the city, local businesses, and us [The Knights].”
For more information about the Knights of Columbus Notre Dame Council or upcoming events, visit notredamehall.com or find them on Facebook at Knights of Columbus 3021 Notre Dame.