There was a lot to like as part of Emporia’s annual Great American Market on Saturday.
Close to 180 vendors set up shop on Commercial Street between Sixth and 12th, bringing people from Emporia, the KVOE listening area, Kansas and neighboring states to town. Emporia Main Street Community Development Coordinator Jessica Buchholz says the format and the calendar stability both help the event grow.
From shirts to knick-knacks to fundraisers and more, vendors offered a lot for residents to buy. Food was also on the list with several food trucks, including the Ken and Barbie truck out of Wichita. Kelly Ake says the food truck market might be showing overall signs of saturation, but mobility is good for events like the market.
Speaking of services, Newman Regional Health had a special tent available for breastfeeding moms to feed their babies and change diapers if needed. Women’s Life Center Director Bobby Johnson says there are several goals with the Baby Stop whenever it’s out at large-scale public events.
This continues a busy late summer and fall for Main Street, which saw big attendance for the Welcome Back Block Party at White Auditorium last month. Main Street is now gearing up for the Emporia High Apella all-class reunion next weekend, Dia de los Muertos, Emporia State’s Homecoming, haunted tours and Veterans Day between now and mid-November.
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Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
