ROCKFORD Rockford City Market vendors said they felt a renewed vibrancy Friday as they returned downtown with 54 market booths, an expanded footprint, new attractions and live music after last season was marred by a deadly pandemic and unrest in the streets.
Now in its 12th season, Rockford City Market drew a steady stream of visitors despite rain early in the evening that sent Bill Boyle of William Boyle Chair Maker scrambling to attach the sides of his canopy to keep his handcrafted chairs dry.
A commercial insurance agent for three decades, Boyle started woodworking as a hobby several years ago and became so good at it that he started selling the chairs and has made it into a side business. This is his first time operating a booth at City Market.
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.