The Downtown Penticton Association says this year's Penticton Community Market is bigger, better and more interactive than ever. Credit: Downtown Penticton Association

Popular community market promises to be bigger and better this year

PENTICTON – The start of the popular Penticton Community Market is only a couple of weeks away and as many as 300 vendors can be expected this year.

The annual market’s first day of the season is Saturday, May 2. It is scheduled to run until Oct. 12, but may be extended to the end of the month this year.

Downtown Penticton Association Executive Director Kerri Milton says she expects 250 to 300 vendors will be participating in this year’s market.

“We’ve expanded, we’re bigger than ever, with lots of new vendors,” she says, adding the market will be offering several new products such as chicken and cheeses.

This year the market will occupy Front Street and the 200, 300 and 400 blocks of Main Street.

Interactive events are also in the works, including the SOS Fest, a display of emergency services vehicles, which will take place May 9. On June 6, the market will host its first ever fire truck pull as a fundraiser for muscular dystrophy as well.

Newly hired special events manager Shawna Tinga has a number of tasks, including organizing special events through the summer and coordinating market vendors. Also new this year is an interactive map posted to the Downtown Penticton Association website that allows users to identify the location of their favourite vendor each week.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 7:49 a.m., April 17, to correct the name of the market.

—This story was updated at 10:53 a.m., April 17 to correct a statement regarding liquor sales at the community market.

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4 responses

  1. Taste of the Okanagan Specialty Foods

    There are still lots of great vendors in the community market who “make, bake, or grow” their products too, but don’t qualify for the Penticton Farmers Market because they come from outside of the boundary.

  2. Penticton Farmers Market

    Just to clarify: The Penticton Farmers’ Market is ONLY in the 100 block of Main St. The Downtown Penticton Association looks after the “Community Market” in the 200, 300 and 400 blocks of Main St, as well as along Front St. The two markets run next to each other on Saturday mornings but are independent and operate with their own mandates. The PFM is specifically for small-scale vendors who make, bake or grow their own products. In addition, the PFM WILL BE hosting liquor vendors this season. For more information, please check out http://www.pentictonfarmersmarket.org or email pentictonfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Thank you.

  3. Casa Grande

    We have the BEST market in BC! Possibly Western Canada!That’s what our guests keep telling us!All aspects of the market are what make it so incredible. From fresh organic vegetables, baking, and canned goods, to clothing, jewellery, hats, paintings, and so much more!I can’t wait for the Market to Kick off May 2!

  4. Gayle Bukowsky

    This is very confusing. The original “Farmers Market” is the 100 block of Main Street – that’s where the real farmers are. The rest of the market has become so commercial that many of our friends don’t even want to go there. Keep it local, keep it made by the people who are vendors.

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Steve Arstad

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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