New market coming to Caledon Fairgrounds on Fridays

Caledon Village Market will showcase all kinds of local vendors

By Zachary Roman

Having driven by the Caledon Fairgrounds countless times in his 20-plus years living in Caledon Village, Barney Beckett always knew something more could be done there than just the annual fair and strawberry festival (and the occasional fall event).

That's why he and other members of the Caledon Village Association (CVA) decided to spearhead the idea of the Caledon Village Market, a dream that will become a reality on May 20.

Beckett explained the biggest hurdle to getting the market going was insurance for vendors, an issue the CVA has since sorted out.

As soon as that happened, Beckett said he and others hit the ground running looking for vendors. 

An overhead map of what the Market will look like was put together by a graphic artist, and Caledon realtor Alex Cygal donated signage for the Market.

“It's all slowly coming together,” said Beckett.

The location of the market is a huge draw for vendors, said Beckett, as the Caledon Fairgrounds are directly off Highway 10 near its intersection with Charleston Sideroad.

“You can't beat that,” he said. “Nobody wants to dive that far off the highway unless they live that way.”

The Caledon Village Market will be held Fridays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. from May 20 to October 7.

It won't run on June 10 or July 1 due to those dates being for the Caledon Fair and Caledon Canada Day and Strawberry Festival, respectively.

Beckett said the Friday afternoon/evening Market timing was strategically chosen to try and catch people heading up to their cottages in the summer, as well as to catch people as they are heading home from work.

“We've got the essentials that are going be there that you might want to pick up… there's going to be a couple of food trucks… a market where you can get your produce, there's going to be a winery,” said Beckett, to name a few of the types of vendors one will find at the Caledon Village Market.

Local growers, artisans and more are all welcome to be vendors at the market. Beckett said as more and more fruits and vegetables come into season, he hopes even more growers will join the Market.

“This being our first year, you know, people hopefully catch on and we can fill the park with vendors next summer again,” said Beckett.

While Beckett was available for an interview with The Citizen, he wanted to emphasize he's just one of the many CVA members and volunteers involved with the implementation of the Market.