Pilot Pointers got a three-for-one deal at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday thanks to the city in partnership with the chamber and local businesses.
For the penultimate market of the season, patrons got the opportunity to enjoy an Art Walk scavenger hunt in addition to their drinks, sponsored by Western Son, and their stall hopping.
“We have this delightful painting of when the golden pig graced the north side of the Square,” Justine Scott said. “What people do is they have this really cool scavenger hunt where they go to the museum, City Hall, the participating businesses and Carol LaRue art, and they answer questions about the different work by the different artists in the buildings.”
Art walkers were also treated to novelty cups frequently refilled with distinctive drinks sporting Western Son Watermelon Vodka as the cornerstone.
“We sold 40 out of 50 tickets,” Chamber Executive Director Evon Lusk said. “This time the drink is watermelon Western Son Vodka, so they donated, and we’re excited for that sponsorship.”
The painting went to Linda Bullwinkle, with others winning several hundred dollars in gift cards and cash from the Saturday drawing.
“It’s really neat because it’s also been an eye opener for some of these other vendors on the Square, showing they can donate things and wanting to be a part of that,” Lusk said. “One of our other businesses donated something for the drawing. It’s neat when people start seeing the involvement. It makes it bigger and better, and it’s way bigger and better than last year.”
Marketgoers had their pick of vendors, Main Street Director Wendy Adkins said, thanks to some poaching from Celina.
“We had several of our city employees that went to the Celina Night Market and got a lot of information on the vendors over there,” Adkins said. “They told them about what we’re doing, and they were ready to come over and be part of our community.”
AME Produce and Sparky’s Produce returned, with AME sporting massive zucchinis—one of which Micky Nortman snagged for her freezer.
“I’ll shred it and make zoodles to put in my freezer to have year around,” she said. “My zucchini never gets this big because I cook it before it gets this big.”
Tia Cooper with Sparky’s Produce and Wanda Fay Boutique said green beans and tomatoes were their hot commodities.
“I sold out of green beans,” Cooper said. “We’ve got a lot of cucumbers and onions, but it's tomatoes—I can’t keep tomatoes. I had a basketful, but someone came yesterday and wiped them out, so I was only able to bring a few.”
The market will return a final time on July 26 with another morning event from 8 a.m.-noon.
“We’re going to get everyone in here to get their shopping done before the heat sets in,” Adkins said.
