Marché Bristol Market launched its 2025 market season on Saturday with an Easter-themed vendors’ event at the Jack Graham Community Centre.
“Somebody asked if we were doing an Easter market. So we thought, we’ll gauge the interest and see if we have enough to cover the hall cost,” said Jennifer Gauthier, one of the market’s organizers.
While she was hoping for at least 15 vendors, to cover the cost of the hall rental and fundraise for future markets and events, 32 signed up to participate in Saturday’s event.
“We were shocked,” Gauthier said. “But it was really nice to know that people are asking us to make a market.”
The market, true to its theme, featured a visit from the Easter bunny, egg painting and an outdoor egg hunt, all organized by Britney Gauthier. She has been putting on kids events for local markets since the holiday season and hopes to continue this summer.
“I’m thinking maybe bike parades,” Britney said. “I want to raise money to get Ray’s Reptiles in for the kids.”
Jennifer Gauthier said she hopes Saturday’s successful event is a sign that the regular Bristol Market hosted at the Norway Bay beach between May and October will continue to grow. She said the market team has been adding more entertainment, such as a barbeque and kids events, in hopes that people will spend more time browsing vendors’ stalls.
“We’re hoping that again this year, it’ll get a little bit bigger,” Gauthier said. “We do everything we can to bring more people in.”
