One of a Kind People

Laughing on Friday and freezing!

One of the reasons that I am passionate about my work is that it is one of a kind!   I never know what the weekend will bring- good weather, lots of visitors, or the opposite, or a surprise.   

This last weekend was the coldest Christmas market since we started in 1988 and there were still the vendors indoors and out and still the trooper visitors in the cold and snow, indoors and out.  Friday morning was -15 C with wind.

 But also one of a kind in the people who are behind the tables- farmers, chefs, artists, crafts people- not one of them the same and all renegades in their own way.    There are so many awesome vendors here and it's a pleasure for me to have them laughing, talking and selling to their customers.

I was interviewed by Morton Molyneux of FarmTV on Sunday and still managed to be coherent.  He did a great job capturing the feeling of the market on Sunday afternoon when it was a bit warmer at a mere -6 C.

You can watch the clip here: 

Millarville Christmas market on Farm TV

Don’t get me wrong- dealing with this many strong minded, independent entrepreneurs is no picnic!  They keep me on my toes.  By Sunday evening I took this photo of myself and, if I do say so myself, I look like I was run over by a truck! 

      

One toast market manager self portrait

If you didn't make it out to see us this year- put us on the calendar for next year.   If you were here....thanks for coming out!

Look how much we have done!

Remember the photos a couple of days ago.   Well we've come a long way.
The tent is up:

Arena floor done!

The floor in the arena is done with the help of an awesome team.

Leaning on the sledge and talking on the phone.  He did a ton of work too!

The tables are up in the arena

In the Hall;

The wind breaks are up around the eating area.

How many community service workers does it take?.....

Vendors are beginning to set up- some of them take a full day and a half their booths are so amazing!

under construction

We even have hoodoos.

You'll have to wait to see what's under here....

I'll be posting more of our progress photos tomorrow- you'll never look at the market the same way again.

Get your taste buds ready.

Come to Eat!

Get your taste buds ready because in addition to all the delicious samples from vendors we have five new food options at our concession.   Hold the Mustard – is gourmet hotdogs with all the fixings.  Gluten free options here.   

Hold the Mustard

 Sichanis Mediterranean Grill- Greek with a twist. 

Eats of Asia is the home to the Aimless Cook.  

Eats of Asia menu.

Primal Eats is North American Comfort food where you will find traditional breakfast, soups, fries, and more:  

Primal Eats Menu

and A Touch of India – featuring curries, naan and butter chicken.  

Margaret from Primal Eats will have here famous Roast Turkey 'n' Cran Sandwich

 “5 incredible new food vendors will be bringing their signature flavours using local ingredients, in a street food concept from their world to yours.” - The Aimless Cook

What will you be having?

Behind the Scenes Monday

Did you ever think that a tractor would come in handy for Christmas market set up?   This one's borrowed from a kind neighbour down the road as our tractor is too small to lift all the plywood for the floor in the arena.   Bill Jackson is the energizer bunny with his sidekick Myrna getting the floor into the arena.  Leveled, fit together, screwed down.   That’s 20,000 square feet of plywood!

This week continues the marathon of preparation and details and now the physical set up begins with decorating, tents, tables, the floor in the arena, rugs, electrical cables, generators, porta potties, septic pumping, dumpsters, recycling….all the behind the scenes stuff, that by the time you get here as a visitor this weekend will be seamless and part of the background.   

Our maintenance man JB is busy running around getting everything for everyone.   The truck looks like a whirlwind was in there by the end of each day.

Krystal- our Events Manager is pinch hitting and cooking lunch for volunteers.

One vendor has been here and build their booth under the grandstand.

The hall isn't ready yet.

This is where the big heated tent will be....

Check back tomorrow for how we're doing.  

Our Community

The events at the Millarville Racetrack, including the upcoming, much anticipated Millarville Christmas Market, are hosted by the Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society.   People have been working together around here for over 100 years to build community and have fun together.   We’re a non-profit governed by a board of volunteers,  so that means that your $10 at the gate helps to pay for the heat, the lights, the maintenance, the garbage, the septic, the water….quite frankly the place eats money for breakfast!   So thanks for your support and I really hope you have a great time!  

As we speak vendors are working furiously to have enough products for the weekend, to get their display and signs ready and make some money.   When you come here and shop you know that your hard earned dollars are going directly to other amazingly talented hard working people from right around here.    It keeps the money within our communities and our province for a few cycles longer than going directly to a large corporation.   I challenge you to become a localist;

Here’s a great clip that I first saw from my friend Tad Hargrave- who is part of a localist group in Edmonton.   http://www.thelocalgood.ca/inspiring-video-be-a-localist/

Check back everyday this week for more behind the scenes information and photos.