Almost 30 retailers and independent vendors will offer a variety of goods and wares during Friday’s Starkville Main Street Association-sponsored Night Market, while seven area restaurants and distributors will provide samplings of locally sourced foods and signature cocktails.
The night offering of the Starkville Community Market, scheduled from 7-9 p.m. at Fire Station Park, is the Greater Starkville Development Partnership’s first ever attempt to transform the traditional farmer’s market into an urban, pop-up shopping experience.
While event goers can enjoy offerings from participating retailers, artisans and independent shopkeepers, they can also purchase a $15 armband to partake in food tastings from local restaurants that will have booths on-site. A $25 armband will give shoppers unlimited tastings from those restaurants as well as wine, beer and cocktails.
Jennifer Prather, the Partnership’s special events coordinator and SCM manager, said the event is expected to draw a large crowd, as many people on social media are sharing information with their friends and saying they’ll attend.
“I think the night market really appeals to a number of people, and it will definitely give the opportunity to out-of-town folks to experience Starkville’s creativity and culture. We’re really excited to see how many people come Friday,” she said.
Jeremy Murdock, owner of JMurdock Photography, predicted he and other vendors will have a great experience introducing their products to new shoppers, both visitors and locals, Friday.
“Over the past few years, the art and culinary scenes in Starkville have just exploded. I think this new event will be a very unique way to highlight the exciting things happening here to visitors, as well as locals,” he said. “This community really embraces new events, especially those centered on local food, art and unique products.”
Night Market attendees can enter Fire Station Park from University Drive’s sidewalk, next to a Starkville-Mississippi State University Area Rapid Transit bus stop near Stromboli’s, and from the area’s main entrance at the intersection of Lampkin and Russell streets. Maps displaying vendor locations will be available at each entrance.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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