No local politician is behind this weekend’s snow, and no unmarked cash changed hands to summon it. But snow is in the forecast across the province this Saturday, according to a report from rdnewsnow.com, as The Market at Red Deer heads into its final weekend of the season.
According to the report, the market has run each Saturday since May from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Red Deer Polytechnic, drawing roughly 100 vendors.
The outlet reported that Patrick Moffat, who co-organizes the market with his sister Fiona each year, called the season overall a success, though the report said organizers had to navigate an unusually wet June. Moffat told the outlet the rain caused some farmers’ crops to go mouldy, while other crops failed to grow well enough.
“People suffered from too much rain, and it’s not that it was bad; we get that once in a while, but it just wasn’t perfect for the market,” Moffat said, according to the report. “We survived and saw the next few months come around, and it’s been pretty good.”
“I dare say 99 per cent of the forecasts I’ve seen this year have been wrong. I’m not putting a lot of weight on what they’re telling us.”
The report said the market grew compared to last year and saw many new faces alongside longtime vendors. According to the outlet, new vendors this year included a business selling frozen chocolate-covered bananas, along with new bakers and jewelry sellers.
The report noted that markets across North America lost vendors following the COVID-19 pandemic, but Moffat said they have come back slowly.
“If we can see growth every year, we’re doing the right thing, and it’s good for everybody locally,” Moffat said, per the report. “That way more people get to know about the market. I think throughout our 56 years there’s been a couple of generational changes, and 25-30 years ago everyone knew about the market. With the influx of new residents in Red Deer and everything getting bigger, not everybody knows about the market. It’s nice to see the opportunity for growth is still there.”
According to the report, Moffat said the market continues to be the heartbeat of Red Deer, and that being open to everyone has made it a spot where people meet to shop and see new and old friends.
“It warms the heart when you stand there, and you listen to the talking, laughing, and positive nature of it,” Moffat said, the report stated. “It’s why I’ve done it for such a long time… It’s all about the family.”
The outlet reported that the forecast for this Saturday calls for snow throughout the province, but Moffat said the market will continue as planned regardless.
“I dare say 99 per cent of the forecasts I’ve seen this year have been wrong. I’m not putting a lot of weight on what they’re telling us. We’ll show up, we’ll be prepared, and we’ll get through it just like we have in years past,” Moffat said, according to the report. He added, “I’d like to thank everyone for their support and their kindness. I hope to see them all next year.”