FROM JAMES TROGLEN

SPECIAL TO THE ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS

WETUMPKA – A strong group gathered for Wetumpka’s Community Market, Thursday, April 7. Community Market is a part of the Main Street program which seeks to promote renovation and improvement of the downtown area.

The Market is now in its third year and is held the first Thursday of the months of April through October. This third Thursday found many vendors setting up behind the shops and buildings along Hill Street in Wetumpka. The vendors set up overlooking the Coosa River providing an amazing vista in which to shop or just relax.

Thursday over 25 vendors gathered to display a wide variety of items including foods, jewelry, sporting and children’s apparel, garden supplies, yoga, and free activities for the kids. Buyers wandered through the various vendors with their pets and kids finding those special items and meeting many friends.

Also, this past week saw a group of 50 visiting Wetumpka and the Market from Mobile, Alabama. Such a venue allows newer businesses a great avenue in which to get their name out there and display their products. Newer Businesses such as Southern Twist Boutique and Swift Tide Sporting were at the Market doing just that.

Jewelry by Twisted Spoon, Clay by K, produce from Pierce Farms, and Andrews Double A Ranch were available. Food was in abundance such as Fried Moon Pies (Coosa Cleaver), Holy Pound Cakes (yes, I said HOLY), Buttered Bundt, Shar Char Cornish Game Hens (Grumpy Dog) and all were well received.

Several of the vendors had handouts for the kids or special free activities such as Kelly’s Kids. There was something for everybody at the Community Market. Parking is abundant along the city streets, or at the parking lot at the end of Hill Street. Potential vendors are charged a small fee to reserve a space and must be approved by the Promotions Committee of Main Street Wetumpka. The next Community Market will be held May 5, 4-6 p.m.