In the three years since Cloverdale’s Market Days began, the event has grown substantially. In it’s first year, vendors set up on sidewalks to showcase their wares and services. Last year, the Cloverdale Arts and Entertainment Association was able to shut down a section of the street to fill with vendors and food trucks.
“Our vision for this year is to really expand atmosphere and entertainment,” said Paige Hardy, director of the Cloverdale Art and Entertainment Association.
“Market Days is all about marketing. Not just the businesses on the street, but marketing home-based businesses, marketing entertainment and marketing culture right here in Cloverdale.”
This year, the association is looking to set up a performing area and invite local talent from Surrey, Langley and White Rock to perform. Everything from singers to dance groups to theatre acts, said Hardy.
Cloverdale will partner with the Arts Council of Surrey to bring art to Oasis Park. They hope to fill the park with 20 to 25 artisans and bring in painting and pottery demonstrations.
“I would even love to see cooking demonstrations, and to see if some of our local chefs would like to participate,” said Hardy.
“There’s so much talent here in Cloverdale,” she added. “This event is about marketing everything Cloverdale has to offer. It gives everyone from local Taekwondo groups to the fire department an opportunity to come down and share what they do.”
This year’s Market Days will take place on May 27, June 24 and Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a free, all-ages event put on by the Cloverdale Arts and Entertainment Association, a non-profit group of volunteers. To raise money for the event, the association sells t-shirts year-round in most of the storefronts along 176 Street.
“We don’t make money doing this. The event is strictly a passion of ours. All the t-shirt sales, all the sponsorship, it all goes right back into the event,” said Hardy.
“It’s a great way to give back to the community,” she said. “It’s a great event for people to get involved in through volunteering or sponsorship, because it incorporates family, local talent, artisans, businesses: local people.”
For more information on the Market Days, or how to get involved, visit: http://www.cloverdale-ae.ca/.