Makers Market adds fresh, new taste to Muncie
Fresh, new, weekly market in downtown Muncie has farmers market-feel with several types of fresh products up for grabs.
MUNCIE — You might have seen it being advertised on social media, or maybe you've passed by all the colorful creations set up in the Friends Memorial Church parking lot on the corner of Jackson and Cherry streets.
Muncie Makers Market is up and running from 4-7 p.m. every Saturday through Oct. 29 at Downtown Muncie's Old West End area.
Arts, crafts, entertainment, fresh flowers, jewelry, produce, and baked goods created by Muncie's finest makers and artists are up for grabs at the weekly market.
You can thank Moth Danner and her mother Susan Danner for providing this convenient, bountiful market.
"I am the Market Master — a standard, state-given title for director of a farmers market," Moth Danner said.
You might also know Danner as the director of Muncie's YART events, or yard sales for art.
She opened the Muncie Makers Market Saturday, June 11, 2016, with the hope and goal of alleviating what she calls "food deserts" in Muncie.
"Our grocery stores in Muncie are on the edge of town, so I want to bring food closer to where we are in the urban downtown area," Danner said. "Downtown Farmstand is the closest market, and some people don't have cars. I'm hoping people get in the habit of taking a weekly trip to get fresh produce."
For the last two years, the Danner duo have spent their Saturdays selling their breads and sweets at the Growers and Makers Market in Hartford City.
"We really enjoy the atmosphere," Danner said. "Baking is a fun hobby for us; it's a way for us to do something together."
Danner said since they enjoy selling at Hartford City's market so much, she copied her experience and created the Muncie Makers Market.
"I wanted to bring Jim Ferguson, the Hartford City market master's idea to Muncie," Danner said. "Something that's fun, wholesome, family-oriented, without being boring, yet still modern."
Danner's goal is to have the annual market annually from June through October, and feature locally grown produce, eggs, plants, flowers, baked goods, and a variety of arts, handmade crafts, and live entertainment.
Market product prices are up to each vendor.
So far, Danner is pleased with Muncie Makers Market and hopes to see it become more of a farmers market as harvests continue to come in.
"It did well the last two weekends and the Old West End neighborhood reached out to me and said they're glad we're here," Danner said. "Same with the pastor at the Friends Memorial Church, as we're renting their parking lot. I'm pleased that they like it."
Interested in becoming a vendor at Muncie Makers Market?
Muncie's market master said vending is by invitation only due to the plan of avoiding duplicate items being sold.
For those interested in registering to sell their creations at Muncie Makers Market, more information can be found on the event's Facebook page.
Contact trends and social scene reporter Rebecca Bream at rbream@muncie.gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @RebeccaBreamTSP.
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