Eugene Saturday Market facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eugene Saturday Market |
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Street view of Eugene Saturday Market craft booths.
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| Genre | Craft Market |
| Dates | April–November |
| Location(s) | Eugene, Oregon, United States |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Website | eugenesaturdaymarket.org |
The Eugene Saturday Market is a fun outdoor craft market in Eugene, Oregon. It's the oldest weekly open-air crafts market in the United States! Imagine a mini-festival every Saturday. You'll find live music, amazing art and crafts, and tasty food from local sellers. Thousands of people visit the market each Saturday.
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A Look Back: How the Market Started
The Eugene Saturday Market first opened its doors on May 9, 1970. There were 29 vendors that day. It was set up in downtown Eugene, next to a city parking garage. Each vendor paid just $1 to be there. Even though it rained all day, the market was a big hit! The Eugene City Council agreed to let the market continue. More vendors joined as Christmas got closer. The first season ended with about 100 vendors filling the market area.
After that first season, some nearby businesses wanted the market to move. But the Lane County commissioners offered a new spot: the Park Blocks. This area was in front of the county courthouse. The market could use it if they became an official organization and got insurance. So, the Eugene Saturday Market was officially created! This deal meant they could use the Park Blocks in summer. In the fall, vendors had to move to a parking garage across the street. The market stayed in these two spots until 1982.
Over time, fewer people visited the market when it was in the parking garage. The market's leaders worked with the city and county to find a better place. In April 1983, the Eugene Saturday Market moved to a new park area. This spot was at Oak Street and 8th Avenue. It was a beautiful place with a fountain. There was enough room for 100 to 125 vendors. Being in the middle of downtown helped attract many visitors. Today, the Eugene Saturday Market is the oldest weekly open-air crafts market in the U.S. It even inspired the Portland Saturday Market, which started in 1974.
Farmers Market: Fresh Food Fun
In 1978, a group looked into starting a farmers market next to the Saturday Market. The idea was to create a place for local farmers to sell fresh produce. The Eugene Saturday Market organization would help run it. The county approved the idea, and the first farmers market opened in August 1979. It was held on Saturdays in a parking lot near the Saturday Market. In 1989, the Lane County Farmers Market became its own group. It's still open from April to November each year, offering fresh local foods.
The Marketplace: What You'll Find
The Eugene Saturday Market is open every Saturday from early April to mid-November. It's open no matter the weather! The market opens at 10 AM and closes at 5 PM. Just before Thanksgiving, the market moves indoors. It goes to the Lane County Fairgrounds and stays there until Christmas Eve. This special indoor market is called the Holiday Market.
There's no entry fee, so you can walk around freely. On a typical Saturday, between 3,000 and 5,000 people visit. Shoppers buy about $2.5 million worth of handmade crafts and food each year!
Everything sold at the Saturday Market is handmade. Also, the person who made the item (or a family member) must be the one selling it. You can find all sorts of handmade goods. This includes artwork, jewelry, clothes, and even furniture. Vendors also sell delicious homemade jams, breads, and honey.
There are about 15 food booths at the market. You can try many different foods from around the world! There's Afghani, English, Indian, Mexican, Thai, and American food. These food booths follow all state health rules. They also have regular health inspections to keep everyone safe.
The Eugene Saturday Market is also a great place for local musicians and performers. There are six stage performances every week. At 10 AM each Saturday, there's a special show for kids on the main stage. You'll also see performers walking around the Park Blocks. Over a thousand performers share their talents at the market each year.
The Eugene Saturday Market has over 700 members. About 300 of these members are active vendors. They regularly sell their crafts or food at the market. Members pay a $50 fee each year. On Saturdays, vendors pay $13 to rent a large booth (eight feet by eight feet). A smaller booth (four feet by four feet) costs $8. Vendors also pay ten percent of their sales to the market.
Awards: Market Recognition
The Eugene Saturday Market has won some cool awards! In 2010, The Register-Guard newspaper named it Lane County's best place for a family outing. This was part of their Readers' Choice awards.
In 2018, the market won the Fentress Endowment Award. This award is given to local arts groups for their great work. A committee of local artists and leaders chose the Saturday Market. They wanted to celebrate its important role in Eugene. The market provides a place for local artists, crafters, and performers to share their talents.
How the Market is Run
The Saturday Market is a not-for-profit organization. This means it doesn't try to make money for owners. Instead, any money it makes goes back into running the market. A group of nine people called the board of directors makes decisions. They are elected by the market members. Each director serves for 18 months and can be re-elected once. Elections happen every three months. The board members choose a chairperson and a treasurer.
In 1981, the Saturday Market standards committee was created. This group sets rules for the crafts sold at the market. They also help solve any problems between vendors. Another group, the budget committee, works with the board. They make sure the market stays financially healthy. They prepare a yearly budget and set vendor fees for the board to approve.
The board of directors also hires employees. There are three full-time employees: a director, a financial helper, and a promotions helper. There are also twelve part-time employees. They help set up and take down the stage and information booth on Saturdays.
