The Good Living Marketplace begins Saturday

The Good Living Marketplace is taking place this Saturday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Burry Park on Cargill Way in downtown Hartsville. Cargill Way, between Fourth and Fifth Street, will be closed to traffic.

The Good Living Market will feature local produce, flowers, art, specialty craft items, children’s activities and local merchant displays and more.

The purpose of the market, said Judi Elving-ton, executive director of Hartsville Downtown Development Associ-ation, sponsored by HDDA and the City of Hartsville, is to increase pedestrian traffic in downtown and increase business activity, assist with non-profit fundraising activities, provide a fun, family-friendly environment in downtown Hartsville for residents and visitors, promote the Hartsville community and increase tourism.

The Good Living Marketplace is a project of the Economic Restructuring Commit-tee, headed by Mark LeGrett. Elvington said a volunteer with Hartsville Downtown Development Association, Nancy Myers, approached her with the idea. On the committee are Deborah Gandy, a member of the HDDA board, Jessie Avant, board member, Todd Shifflet, board member, Marty Driggers and Nancy Myers. They researched the project finding other markets across the state to compare rules and regulation. They also had conversations with farmers who might be interested in providing produce for the market, including farmers who grow vegetables for a hobby or those that grow a surplus.

“They must grow their own,” Elvington said. “We have a lot of people in the area who are more health conscience and people who have moved into the area who have encountered fresh markets in other areas where they have lived and are wanting these things that they have become accustomed to.

“This is not a flea market or a yard sale,” Elvington said. “It is a way to promote goods and services in Hartsville in a fun and learning environment. There will be breakfast and lunch available.”

Among the market vendors will be McLeod Farms and Ovis Hill Farms. Market participants include downtown businesses, HDDA and non-HDDA members, community businesses, area farmers, artisans and craftsmen, restaurants and bakeries, non-profit organizations and more.

Kalmia Gardens Master Gardeners will be there at the market as will be Bruce Moon with his daylilies for sale. There will be health screenings and nutrition information booths.

There will be lots of children’s activities. Some them include Spiderman inflatable, sack races and hula hoop competitions.

The market will be hosted the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors can set-up at 8 a.m. and must vacate the premises by 3 p.m.

Future market dates are Nov. 1, Dec. 6, Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11 (due to July 4 weekend), Aug. 1, Sept. 5 and Oct. 5.

Anyone wishing to be a vendor should contact Elvington to get a copy of the rules, regulations and fees for this market. The booths are 12 x 12s and you must provide your own tent or table. Contact Elvington at 332-1600 or at 214 N. Fifth St. for more information.