The Kirkland Wednesday Market opens with fun and fanfare!

An overcast day could not dim the smiles on faces everywhere yesterday on Park Lane East. Farmers and vendors were there to greet the throngs of shoppers, neighbors, browsers, strollers and dogs on the opening day of the Kirkland Wednesday Market. With new hours (2pm - 7pm) and some 60 booths of farmers and other vendors, the market looks to be off to a strong start to the 2008 season.

The market’s new colorful flags waved in the breeze as shoppers from around the Eastside descended into the downtown core. The new “green” orange bags were quite popular with shoppers (free with coupon, or two dollars at the KWM booth) as they shopped the market stalls. Local merchant, Simplicity Decor, gave away their own fantastic yellow bags so the crowd was well prepared for some serious shopping. My family picked up some delicious cheeses from River Valley Cheese, some amazing flowers and we are looking forward to trying the Wooly Pigs bacon.
Opening day festivities included beautiful music by The Lake Washington High School Choir. A ribbon cutting ceremony, plant-a-seed booth, a string band (including a fantastic banjo!), and Sprout Story Time with the Kirkland City Mayor, Jim Lauinger were among the other events of the day. KingCounty Council member Jane Haig, made a welcome appearance as well, even if she was a little late. 

Special events are scheduled to help the Kirkland Wednesday Market become an “event” each week rather than merely a place to shop. My family had a great deal of fun  (I can’t believe I just wrote I had fun shopping!) and we are looking forward to visiting again next week. Bravo! to the dedicated group who work so hard at what has become an important part of the mosaic that makes life in Kirkland so great.  The KWM has become not only an alternative market for produce (and more), but also a fun place to gather. As community-building guru Jim Diers might say, the market has become our neighborhood “bumping place”.

For more information, visit the market website (www.kirklandwednesdaymarket.org). It has lots of details including special events planned throughout the season. The Kirkland Weblog has also posted an excellent article on the market. You can read it here.

The Kirkland Wednesday Market is a non-profit 501 ( c ) (3) sub-committee of the Kirkland Downtown Association, founded in 2000.

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