Summer market returns as ‘real downtown experience’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/07/2025 (270 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s downtown is set to come alive every Wednesday starting today until Sept. 3 as the Downtown Summer Market officially launches under the leadership of the Downtown BIZ.

Originally initiated by Westman Immigrant Services in 2023, the weekly market has now been fully handed over to the downtown business group, a transition that is “a natural fit,” BIZ executive director Emmy Sanderson told the Sun.

While WIS piloted the first edition on its Pacific Avenue lot, Sanderson said the market’s growth and ambitions called for a business-focused organization to take the reins.

“We wanted to elevate it into something that feels more like a true street market,” Sanderson said. “So now we’re shutting down the 900 block of Rosser Avenue every Wednesday and creating a real downtown experience from 2 -7 p.m., with food, fun, music and markets.”

This year’s edition promises far more than booths and produce. Sanderson and her team are transforming the block into a mini-festival each week, complete with a children’s play area, patio seating extending from four local restaurants, buskers, live music and 30 rotating vendors offering everything from fresh produce and handcrafted jewelry to cotton candy and local meats.

Established names like Section 6 Brewery, Twisters Ice Cream, Multi Cook and Willow Lane Garden are slated to appear regularly, while WIS will continue its involvement by providing three vendor booths for its clients.

The expanded vision hasn’t come without challenges. Permitting logistics, ranging from health and liquor licences to road closures, have required careful planning since December. Still, Sanderson praised the strong support from the City of Brandon and a long list of sponsors and community partners, including Pinnacle Event Rentals, BNRC, Star FM and Q Country.

“Without our sponsors and volunteers, this wouldn’t be happening,” she said. “The Downtown BIZ has only one full-time and one part-time staff member, so we’re relying on a small army of volunteers, board members and community partners to bring this to life every single week.”

Elizabeth Morrow, who co-ordinates vendor engagement and marketing for the market, highlighted the immense public interest the market has already generated.

“People are excited to have a proper, large-scale market downtown. We’re not just putting up a few booths, we’re creating a full-on summer destination,” she said.

Morrow’s experience organizing the winter Maker’s Market helped build a trusted network of local artisans and food producers. Many from that event are returning this summer, she said, drawn by the sense of community and the promise of high foot traffic.

With a target of drawing about 1,000 attendees weekly, the BIZ team is also banking on Brandon’s appetite for accessible summer fun.

“We’ve intentionally made everything family-friendly and free — music, kids activities, even seating areas — so people can just come out and enjoy,” said Sanderson.

Parking remains available on surrounding streets and lots, and becomes free citywide after 4 p.m. The only thing the organizers can’t control is the weather. Should storms hit, the market will simply skip a week and resume the following Wednesday, as rescheduling, Sanderson noted, is logistically impossible.

Despite the 12-hour days involved in setup and teardown, she remains enthusiastic.

“There’s something magical about walking a closed street, kids playing freely and everyone enjoying the downtown. We’re hoping this becomes a staple of Brandon summers.”

Karla’s International Foods, one of the featured vendors, is bringing a mix of gratitude, realism and authentic Mexican flavours to the event, its founder, Karla Ortega, told the Sun.

Ortega said she was moved by the passion and sacrifice of the team behind the market.

“I’m very, very surprised and very thankful to the organizers,” she said. “They’re not gaining anything from this. They’re doing it just to ensure our businesses stay alive. It’s very altruistic — they’re putting in a lot of time, not for profit, but because they want people to see what downtown is, not just what it’s perceived to be.”

Ortega hopes the market will help change perceptions of the city’s downtown, a neighbourhood often overshadowed by stigma.

“People don’t go downtown. They think it’s a drug-addict hub, but that’s not what it is. The market is a way to show that downtown is vibrant, full of life and worth exploring,” she said.

As for the expected turnout, Ortega admitted that both she and other vendors are unsure.

“We’ve been meeting regularly, and honestly, none of us knows what to expect,” she said. “We assume the first Wednesday will be busy, but whether that keeps up — who knows?”

For the market, Karla’s International Foods will feature Micheladas — a Mexican beverage typically made with beer, lime juice, assorted sauces, spices and peppers — as a highlight offering. While she isn’t promising an extensive lineup of new dishes, Ortega wants people to experience the full range of what her restaurant has to offer by stepping inside.

“I can’t prepare 10 different specials,” she said. “But I want people to come in and see what it’s all about.”

It’s more than just another Wednesday, she added, but a chance to connect, to showcase culture and to reaffirm the heart still beating strong in downtown Brandon.

For Downtown BIZ, the market is not just about commerce— it’s about community.

“We want people to discover what’s here, to celebrate local businesses and to spend quality time downtown,” Sanderson said. “This is for everyone.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola