The spirit of the community comes alive on Ucluelet’s Village Green every Friday night. Local vendors are set up under welcoming tents selling their handmade art, jewellery, knits, soaps, and crafts. Freshly baked bread and treats, locally roasted coffee, and locally grown fruits and vegetables can all be found at the Ucluelet Friday Night Market.
The market runs on Friday night from 5:00PM to 9:00PM. The location and time of Ucluelet’s market isn’t the only thing that has changed this summer.
“We have registered as a non-profit society and signed up with the District of Ucluelet,” said Joleen Morrow, an organizer and vendor at the Ucluelet Friday Night Market. “We are now able to apply for grants, have support from the town, and we have built a foundation for a local market for years and years to come.”
The community of Ucluelet has responded positively to their new market. Not only have locals and visitors come down to shop at the market, people have stepped up to the opportunity to share and sell their art, crafts, or food products.
“There are people out there who a little crafty or artistic but never thought about selling their stuff. Now that we have a market in Ucluelet they seem motivated to make more art or crafts, and do more gardening! I think it’s going to have a positive impact on our town,” shared Morrow.
So far the market has had fantastic turn outs from the locals and tourists are starting to find their way down to the Village Green as well. Organizers of the market plan to raise funds for advertising and hope this will let visitors know they can shop from west coast vendors during their stay in Ucluelet. They hope to continue to create a casual and relaxed atmosphere where both locals and visitors can socialize while supporting local artisans and producers.
“We also have live music playing throughout the night. We try to have local musicians come out every week to provide some entertainment. It really adds to the outdoor market atmosphere,” said Morrow.
Coffee, teas, preserves, fudge, perogies, handmade soaps, jewellery, waterproof beach blankets, gourmet doggie treats, organic clothing and prints, bread and baking, organic vegetables, eggs, free range meat, and flowers are a few of the products you can purchase at the Ucluelet Friday Night Market.
Bring your reusable shopping bag and support your local crafters and producers!
Kind Regards,
The Gray Team
