T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM Cartwright Market Manager Trisha Wilder speaks to Larry Pfantz with Dusty Hill Farm during the first Cartwright Makers Market on Saturday. The Makers Market will be held the first and third Saturday of the month in the lower level of Central Christian Church.

The season for the Cartwright Farmers Market might be over, but there has been steady growth in vendors, products and visitors during the past several years. The growth is enough for the board of directors to offer more events to Marshalltown residents.

Market Manager Trisha Wilder said they tried to count visitors during the last season.

“Usually once school is out, we start seeing more visitors and vendors as the produce comes in,” she said. “Slower markets may have around 200 visitors. Once most of the produce has come in we’ll see 300 to 350. During corn season we start seeing well over 400 visitors a day. We had about 500 during the craft show, but we were not able to count all of the visitors as it was spread out over the entire property.”

A new website, cartwrightmarket.org, is up and running. More board members have been added to help with the market operation. Wilder said there is excitement for 2025, and plans are in place for future events.

“We plan to have the Kid Zone on Wednesdays, monthly crafts shows like the one we held this September and hopefully some live demonstrations with food prepping and craft making,” she said. “We are open to ideas from our community as well.”

Wilder attributed Cartwright’s growth to advertising and word of mouth.

“We also have many loyal customers that attend almost every market,” she said. “Some of our extra events draw more visitors as well.”

Two extra events are scheduled for the remainder of 2024 — the Cartwright Makers Market and the Cartwright Christmas Market.

The first Makers Market was held on Saturday. Vendors gathered in the basement of the Central Christian Church to sell handmade or homemade products. Wilder said to start, the Makers Market will be held twice a month on the first and third Saturdays.

“It is similar to the indoor market,” she said. “We wanted the name to reflect what is offered. There obviously won’t be much produce being offered over the winter months. Although there may be some.”

According to Wilder, most of the vendors will offer baked goods, freeze dried candy, personal care products, leather crafts and handmade crafts. The opportunity to buy and sell locally-made products is not the only thing at the Makers Market. Similar to the farmers market, music will be provided, courtesy of the Prairie Creek String Band. .

“We are planning to bring in some kids activities, as well – games, coloring activities and simple crafts,” she said.

The Christmas Market is scheduled for Dec. 21 with vendors offering handmade gift-themed and holiday-themed items.

Wilder said they are looking for student volunteers to help with some market operations. Students in the Silver Cord program could earn hours with Cartwright.

“Volunteers can contact me by phone or email, or through our Facebook page,” she said. “Right now we would like one or two door greeters during our Makers Markets.”

MARKET INFORMATION:

Name: Cartwright Makers Market

Location: Lower level of the Central Christian Church, 300 W. Main St.

Dates: Nov. 16, Dec. 7, Dec. 21, Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Feb. 5, March 1, March 15, April 5, April 19

Times: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Name: Cartwright Christmas Market

Location: Lower level of the Central Christian Church, 300 W. Main St.

Date: Dec. 21

Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.