Pilot Point Market, Mosey draw a crowd

By Basil Gist

Staff Writer

The Pilot Point Square was buzzing with activity on Saturday despite the heat.

Between the season’s final Farmer’s Market, the second Mimosa Mosey, Shakespeare on the Square and the Saturday Drawing, there was activity from 8 a.m. to noon.

“The plan was to keep building on what we’ve already established,” Main Street Director Wendy Haun said. “We’ve had a great turnout this year.”

Will Leija of North Texas Artisan Foods made his Pilot Point Market debut under the July sun with his hot sauce.

“What I’m focused on is enhancing the food rather than destroying it with overly hot products,” Leija said. “This is my first Pilot Point Market, and I love the folks and love the town.”

Leija was joined by several other new vendors alongside the veteran ones from the season.

“We’re so excited to see some new vendors and all our old mainstays out here,” Haun said.

With some help from the Chamber of Commerce, the downtown merchants received some extra love via the second annual Mimosa Mosey, which maintained its participation limit, unlike the year’s earlier Mint Julip Roundup.

Chamber Executive Director Evon Lusk said the reason for keeping the numbers low was twofold—first because the glasses have to be ordered specifically and two, because the event can put a strain on the merchants despite the additional foot traffic.

“We’ll [add tickets] when our merchants decide they want to up the number,” Lusk said. “Fifty doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s a lot when you’re providing the merchandise or, with businesses like Notoriously Yours, who go above and beyond with gifts on top.”

Lusk also said the Chamber is considering increasing the number of events held.

“We are going to expand it next year because it’s gone over so well,” Lusk said. “Once we get the go ahead from the downtown merchants, we’ll probably do something at every market next year.”

Pilot Point newcomer Hannah Cooper applauded the event and the market overall.

“This is a great way to help support local businesses,” Cooper said. “It gets people involved in your community and builds a sense of community that you don’t really see in bigger towns.”

Vocal artist Dunashay Thomas shared his sound with the town all morning, with intermittent interruption from the Garage Door Theater Troupe, which performed select scenes from Shakespeare’s works.

“The Garage Door Theater approached me about doing Shakespeare on the Square, and I was very enthusiastic about making it happen,” Haun said.

The day finished with the Saturday Drawing, wherein Jennifer Taylor won the $200 grand prize donated by Notoriously Yours.

Patti Wilson won $50 donated by the Pilot Point Coffee House, and Cindy Faris won $100 donated by The Purple Door Day Spa and Salon and The Sterling Event Venue.

“Hopefully, next year we’ll be at our new home at the Ice House,” Haun said. “We are so excited about the potential of that move to a new venue and exploring what that might hold for the farmer’s market.”