By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Excitement is one ingredient included in any good farmers’ market, enhanced by the colors of fresh produce and the scent of fresh bread. When Clarksville’s Downtown Market opens on Saturday, May 24, it hopes to rev up that excitement with a few additions.
Located at Clarksville City Hall, One Public Square, the market will run Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 24 through Oct. 18.
“We will have over 83 vendors over the course of this season,” says Matthew Nixon, director of the market for the City of Clarksville Parks and Recreation.
Nixon said the vendors will offer produce, baked goods, honey, milk, and arts and crafts. And those who get to that first market early will get extra goodies.
“We will be giving away over 600 very nice market bags and other giveaways at the first market,” Nixon said.
Additionally, the market have a new mascot this year. His name is “Corny” and – wait for it – he is an ear of corn “with a silly grin,” Nixon said. He will be strutting around at the first market.
The season’s sponsor for 2014 is the Montgomery County Co-op; the market has received a lot of support from the general manager, Josh Briggs, Nixon said. And, as with many organizations now, the market benefits from Facebook marketing. This year there will be a “Vendor of the Week” who will have his or her story featured on Facebook. To follow the market’s special events, simply “like” the Clarksville Downtown Market on Facebook.
Those who have questions may contact Nixon by phone at (931) 645-7476 or by email at matthew.nixon@cityofclarksville.com.
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.