After a winter hiatus, the Rainier Saturday Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, for a special Easter market at Wilkowski Park.
The preview weekend will correspond with We Love Rainier WA’s Easter egg hunts, which will host five different egg hunt start times from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
The market, a much-welcomed sign of spring, will then be dormant again until it officially opens for the season on May 6.
The market at Wilkowski Park offers a chance for people to find unique goods and food, while offering residents a chance to get together.
After replacing a previous open-air market in Rainier that stopped running, the Rainier Saturday Market has established itself as a community attraction for locals and vendors alike. The market has operated for five years and is a hub for small businesses, direct sales and local artisans.
Dawn Workman, who has been a vendor for seven and a half years, said the market is always looking for new vendors. The pandemic caused a drop in participation, but the group is working to build back up.
“We’re looking for more mom-and-pop type vendors,” Workman said. “We also put people on an alternative list in case a vendor can’t make it or gets sick.”
The market likes to include regulars so people know who to expect each week.
Workman said the market sees anywhere from 10 to 25 vendors on a regular weekend. Some vendors have been with the market since its inception, while others are new.
Those who attend can expect a large variety of items like fresh plants, homemade products, blankets, birdhouses, and car parts.
“People should expect to see some of the same faces and some new faces,” Workman said. “We have about 25 to 35 vendors signed up for this year.”
In addition to being a popular shopping destination, the Rainier Saturday Market has also become a community hub. Workman noted many of its vendors have established relationships with their customers. It is also a place where people can make new acquaintances.
“The market is a place where people come to catch up with old friends, find unique items, and support local businesses,” Workman said.
Workman’s dad, Kevin Petit, runs the market while she helps with outreach.
For more information, contact her on Facebook at Dawn Workman or via email at dworkman5@live.com.
People can also follow the Rainier Saturday Market on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rainiersaturdaymarket.
