Outdoor farmer’s market will be at Smith’s Field
By Barb Pert Templeton
At a recent meeting members of the Algonac City Council approved a special event application to allow Riverside Market to return to Smith’s Field in Algonac beginning Friday, May 17.
The popular market will be hosted on Fridays, from 3 to 7:30 p.m., May 17 to Oct. 18. It will welcome food vendors, crafters, small businesses and farms. Booths are $10 per week and the market will not be held when major city events are hosted on the property like the Pickerel Tournament, Bump and Run and Halloween in the Nac.
The sponsoring organization for the market this year is Jacob’s Ladder F&H, LLC and the event chair is Michelle Binaghi. In seeking the special event permit Binaghi asked that the market be open on Fridays because that’s when people get off work for the weekend.
In addition, she asked to extend the market hours to 7:30 p.m. to give people more time to make it to Smith’s Field afterwork. She also noted that Smith’s Field is located behind the local Dairy Queen off M-29 in Algonac.
A farmer’s market was attempted last year or the year before, on Thursdays in a different location but it didn’t take off.
“The reason I’m here is because I’ve heard from so many people that they loved the market at Smith Field and hated that it moved and then closed a month early,” Binaghi said. “It truly felt like the meeting place each week and was so fun to see everyone come out and enjoy it.”
The Smith’s Field is located behind the Dairy Queen in Algonac off of M-29.
On the application permit packet Binaghi wrote that she has secured liability insurance and the policy is paid in full with the city’s name noted on it.
“I will have vendors sign a contract/waiver each week for the city’s safety as well as my own,” Binaghi added.
In a memo to the city council about the application City Manager Denice Gerstenberg said the St. Clair County Sheriff has signed off on the safety and security plans for the venue as well.
Other ideas for the market that Binaghi listed on the application included that she would like to come up with some special ideas to benefit the community, such as donating a free spot or portion of the vendor fees to a 501-C3 organization; holding a Thanksgiving food drive and possibly working with local animal shelters to obtain donations and for seeing pets adopted.
Other ideas Binaghi suggested included making flyers to promote the market in the local community and possibly having some giveaways from local businesses.
As to comfort for shoppers, there is a porta-john available for the public behind the Dairy Queen, which the city provides all year round.
Algonac City Council members thanked market organizer Binaghi, for managing the market this year.
“The market at Smith’s Field was loved by so many; people loved to ride a bike or walk over and shop small and I’d love to bring it back,” Binaghi said.
