Visit downtown Saturday for the Good Living Marketplace

The second Good Living Marketplace takes place this Saturday, Nov. 1, 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, local merchant displays and more.
The Good Living Marketplace is coordinated by Hartsville Downtown Development Association in partnership with the City of Hartsville.

Judi Elvington, executive director of Hartsville Downtown Development Association, said the Good Living Marketplace committee is very pleased with the response to their first marketplace on Oct. 4.

“It’s is already growing from the 33 vendors in October to 46 vendors for this second marketplace,” Elvington said. “It is truly a community atmosphere.”

New to venue this month are the Lions Club selling brooms who will have their "Lion" at the Marketplace distributing candy; the Pilot Club of Hartsville will be selling Chuppa knives and handing out information about their non-profit organization and their projects; the youth of Wesley UMC will be selling popcorn as a fund-raiser and the Coker College Student Athletes will be taking up "Make a Wish" donations.

The Humane Society will be on hand for pet adoptions. And the Girls Scouts will be there, too.

For the children, games will be organized by Wesley United Methodist

Church. There will be a Jurassic Park inflatable for them to play on and face painting.

Carolina Pines will have health screenings. Gerald's Birds will be back with more exotic birds and cages
McLeod Farms, Ovis Hill Farms, Byrd Hardware and Randy Lawhon will be selling produce.

“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.”

Market participants include downtown businesses, HDDA and non-HDDA members, community business, area, farmers, artisans and craftsmen, restaurants and bakeries, non-profit organizations and more.

The market is hosted on 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 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.

“We welcome inquiries about the market,” Elvington said, “and are looking of more vendors, especially more produce.”

Vendors may request a Good Living Marketplace Rules/Regulations and Registration Form by contacting the HDDA office at 332-1600 or DowntownHartsvil@bellsouth.net.

“I invite the community to experience the ‘art of good living’ in Hartsville through the Good Living Marketplace on Nov. 1 and to "expect pleasant surprises,” Elvington said.

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.