First Saturday Market draws big crowd

This year's first Saturday Market appears to have been a successful one, with bright weather, a slew of local vendors and many happy people perusing the various goods and sundries on offer.

The Saturday Markets, organized by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, have been a staple event in the town's various summer celebrations and will run every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon until Sept. 16, with local vendors selling produce, artwork and various handcrafted items.

Among the vendors this year was Amanda Haney, owner of Worthy of Love Crystals and More, a Chinook business selling polished stones and crystals that had a great first market Saturday.

Haney said it was a bit of a slow start that morning, but it picked up quickly and the weather was great, so it was a really good first Saturday.

"People were having a good time, so I'm having a good time," she said.

She said this is her second time doing the markets and she's glad to see all the local vendors again, all of whom are really great.

Among those vendors was Barry Brownlee who was selling 3D printed models of Dungeons & Dragons figures, Star Wars models and more.

He said this isn't his first time doing Saturday Markets, either and his hobby business B Design is doing just as well as last year so far.

The Hutterites from Gildford Colony also seemed to do well selling their food.

Walter Waldner said the colony has been going to these markets for a long time, and this one was going very well, especially for the first week.

Attendees seemed to agree.

Mart Johnson said he's always impressed when he sees events like this getting people out into the community as early as 8 or 9 in the morning.

"That says something, you know," Johnson said.

And he wasn't the only one.

Kathy Salisbury said she and her granddaughter Autemn were having a very good time.

"We're finding all kinds of things today," Salisbury said.

She said her granddaughter loves these kinds of things so she's found lots of things to get.

Saturday Markets will continue until this year's Festival Days celebration in September, and if this one was any indication they look like they will be well-attended.