ROCKFORD — Rockford City Market will return downtown for its 12th season with more vendors and a larger footprint than ever before.
The annual outdoor event featuring local businesses and creators will welcome patrons back to 116 N. Madison St. on May 21.
On Friday, Rockford City Market and Rock River Development Partnership representatives held a news conference to discuss what's new this year and how the market plans to rebound after the pandemic caused last year's attendance to drop to about a quarter of what it was in 2019.
On opening day this year, patrons can expect to see 54 vendors ranging from restaurants and local farmers to crafters and retailers. There eventually will be 59 vendors, and 61% or 35 vendors are either owned by minorities or women.