CELORON - Fresh garden products, baked goods and other items will be available at Lucille Ball Memorial Park on Saturday for the first Market in the Park.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., local growers and regional producers will provide products - rain or shine. John Keeney, Celoron mayor, said the idea for the market was first discussed by village officials in January.
''The primary reason (for offering Market in the Park) is we want to offer village residents, and area residents, the opportunity to buy fresh foods,'' Keeney said.
He said the park seems like an ideal location, with plenty of parking and the bonus of a beautiful view of Chautauqua Lake. Keeney said he had heard from a number of local residents who were asking for a market-type event in the park.
''We would hear comments like, 'If Lakewood has one, if Jamestown has one, why shouldn't we,'" he said. ''Considering the limited parking in Jamestown and some limited parking in Lakewood, we offer a much more accessible location.''
Keeney said he doesn't know what the initial response will be from customers or vendors for the first Market in the Park.
''Our philosophy with everything we've done, even with rib-fest, is to start out small and be good at what we are doing,'' he said. ''If we are good, we will continue to build to be greater.''
Keeney said, to his knowledge, it is the first time a market event will be held in the park. The mayor said there has been some difficulty in attracting area vendors on a Saturday. However, he said Brigotta's Farmland Produce & Garden Center and Farm Fresh Foods will be attending the event.
''Some vendors have other events; they go to in Fredonia, Silver Creek and Forestville, which may limit the vendors we will attract here,'' he said. ''Also, a vendor like Elegant Edibles is absolutely swamped on Saturday because of weddings. Whether it is a good day (Saturday) or not, we shall answer in the future.''
Keeney said he doesn't know how many vendors will attend the market, but there is plenty of space in the park.
''Just using that long stretch of the park, we could hold 15 vendors. If we wanted to expand to put more in, we could take 20 or more vendors,'' he said.
For more information about acquiring a vendor location at Celoron's Market in the Park, contact Mark Wilson, market manager, at Celoron Village Hall, 487-4175.