Main Street in Shawville was abuzz with activity during the town’s street market this past Saturday. With sections of the roadway closed off to vehicles, vendors and artisans from throughout the area set up booths to showcase the wide variety of goods they offered.
With a cloudless sky overhead, shoppers browsed and mingled whilst vendors sometimes had to grab hold of their pop-up canopy tents to keep them from blowing away in the occasional bluster of wind. The erratic breezes did not dampen the mood however, and smiles could be seen on the faces of shoppers and vendors alike.
Local author Kim McDougall was present at the market exhibiting her wide selection of literary works including Devils Don’t Lie, the seventh book in her Valkyrie-Bestiary series to be released on May 16.
“Personally, I like these events because it gets me out of the house and I have an opportunity to meet people,” said McDougall. “Being a writer who works from home, I would be a bit of a hermit otherwise, so it’s fun and fulfilling for me.”
Natasha Beardsley, of Bristol Bee Honey Co., said that the street market was a great venue for vendors and artisans to engage with the community and garner awareness for what they do.
“I have done all the street markets for as long as I can remember,” said Beardsley. “People appreciate knowing where their food comes from or where their products come from, so we always do really well whenever we participate in one.”
Shauna McKenna, from Crooked Fence Farm, said that this was her third Shawville street market and that she is always glad to have come out to participate.
“It’s nice to see other peoples products from the area and to just support everyone,” said McKenna. “I feel the Shawville area is developing a ‘support local’ movement and it’s awesome to see.”
Connor Lalande
Shawville May 13, 2023
