Rhoden shares what market-goers can expect this year
Market on the Square is popping up again on June 3 lasting through the long, hot summer months until Sept. 16, running every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the courthouse parking lot.
Vendors and businesses from around Hamilton County and beyond will come to showcase their wares and services.
With the exception of A’ROR’N Days, where the event will move to the parking lot of the Bremer Center, small businesses will be out on the square to connect directly to their customers.
“We have a lot of amazing people in our community doing amazing things in their homes and this is a great opportunity for them to showcase their work if they are looking to maybe start their own business,” said Justise Rhoden, executive director of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce.
She went on to say that the event encourages children to learn and experiment with running their own business.
“We have a good number of kids that sell things, so this teaches them how to work with customers, learn about sales and dream someday about owning and running their own business someday,” she explained.
Rhoden described one of her most excited vendors being one of the youngest having learned much from the event.
“One of my most enthusiastic vendors is an 8-year-old girl and since she started with us a few years ago she has learned so much about products, customer service and has even started thinking about events and how it can help her bracelet business,” she said.
Rhoden said she expects growth this year, based on the number of vendors who have already signed up.
“So far for this year we have about 13 signed up which is right on par for what we usually see,” she reported. “That number usually grows as the season goes on and depending on how gardens do.”
Rhoden also noted that the number of out-of-county-based vendors have increased.
“We have seen a number of vendors from outside our community want to come and set up which is great to draw other crowds from around us which is great for our local economy,” she elaborated.
She went on further to outline the variety of goods already confirmed by vendors who will be at the event.
“We have a variety of vendors so far including homemade soaps, eggs, produce, flowers, bracelets, magnets, specialty meat products and baked goods including sugar cookies, macarons, muffins, homemade breads and more,” she described.
Towards the end of the summer there will be more locally-produced, direct from home grown garden food to the square, encouraging residents to see the changes throughout the season.
“The biggest change we see is in late July/early August when gardens are producing vegetables,” she said. “Our vendor application is also open the whole season so we see a few new vendors joining all the time so we encourage everyone to keep stopping by every week to see what new vendors and products we have because every week is different.”
Vendors can sign up towards the end of the season via the Market on the Square facebook page, filling out a registration form on www.auroranebraska.com or emailing hello@auroranebrasksa.com to receive a form. Fees are $15 for one weekend or $25 for the full season. Vendors can indicate on the form what weekends they will not be available.
Rhoden concluded that she is excited to see the community connect together over a local business-focused event.
“We are just excited to see so many people wanting to come out and meet other people and showcase their talents,” she said. “Market on the Square is an amazing event to bring people to our community and we are just excited to see everyone there!”