For those wanting to participate in this year’s Great American Market, now is the time to act.
Booth spaces are filling up for the annual event, which will take place on Sept. 12 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
About 80 booth spaces so far have been reserved, and there is space for about 140, according to Emporia Main Street director Casey Woods. The festival will take place on Commercial Street between 3rd Avenue and 12th Avenue.
“We are currently placing booths on our map, so the sooner they get in their form the more ideal their placement will be,” Woods said. “It’s a first-come, first-serve basis.”
The event is modeled after a flea market, but is also meant to showcase downtown Emporia. Among the offerings will be food vendors, arts and crafts, knick-knacks and other unique items and anything people might want to drag out of their closets and offer for sale. Businesses will have booths at the market that will offer sale items and informational materials.
The days activities also will include the Chalk Fest, sponsored by the Emporia Arts Council. The event offers the opportunity for people to display their artistic talent with street painting activities. The Chalk Fest will take place in the 900 block of Commercial Street.
Also running in conjunction with the market will be the Car & Motorcycle Show, with judging to run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The show has been expanded this year to include three-wheeled hot rods, or trikes.
The Great American Market is one of the largest outdoor events Emporia has to offer, Woods said, and usually draws several thousand people.
“It’s just very reminiscent of the old-fashioned street festival where you would shut down the street and everybody would come out,” Woods said. “Families would have a good time, look at all the entertainment, do some shopping and eating and look at the different classic cars, and it’s just a lot of fun.”