The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-Spring is in the air, and there is opportunity at the upcoming Waitsburg Friday Market.

Formerly the Waitsburg Farmers Market, the small outdoor market opened last year with a handful of local vendors, including Whoop'em Up Hollow Farms, Bread Head, and Dusty Britches Farm. This year, organizers are making changes as it prepares for opening day.

Nancy's Dream Garden owners, Doug Biolo and Janet Lawrence, are the market's managers, and owner of Dusty Britches Farm, Noelle Olson, is the market organizer.

In an interview with The Times, Biolo and Olson shared that the 2021 season went exceptionally well. They are already looking forward to this season, which kicks off on June 3 and runs through Labor Day Weekend. Moving away from the farmers market model will open new opportunities for vendors, Olson said.

Though there were repeat customers at the Saturday market last year, there were also many shoppers and vendors who passed up the little market at Nancy's Dream Garden Center in favor of the more established Walla Walla Farmers Market. Both were held at the same time which led the Waitsburg market to move to Fridays this year.

"Moving to Friday means that we won't be competing against other local farmers markets," Olson said. "College Place has a market on Thursday, and Walla Walla has theirs on Saturday. Everyone can be more successful this way."

This year, there are five new vendors already signed up, but the Waitsburg Friday Market is looking to expand its list. Olson said they are looking for antiques vendors, a woodsmith, and other specialty vendors.

The market returns to Nancy's Dream Garden Center, 124 Warren Street, in Waitsburg. Biolo said there is plenty of room for vendors to spread out.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Waitsburg Friday Market, contact organizer Noelle Olson at (509) 205-4344, or noelleco12@gmail.com. Biolo and Lawrence can be contacted through Nancy's Dream Garden Center at (509) 301-3858 or nancysdream2018@gmail.com. The Waitsburg Friday Market is on Facebook, as well!

"I hope people enjoy it! We hope this brings a great service to the community," Biolo said.