ROCKFORD Demonstrators will conduct their weekly protests of racial injustice at Rockford City Market again this year even as an expanded market footprint will make it more difficult to deliver their message to visitors.
Gone this year are dedicated protest zones that officials say demonstrators ignored last year. And the streets where protesters marched a year ago will now be inside an expanded City Market area filled with vendors, displays and activities.
Market and city officials say the demonstrators aggressive tactics are meant to agitate, disturb and disrupt a market where about 55 vendors many of them women and minorities plan to work in an effort to establish or expand businesses. In addition to the pandemic, officials blame the demonstrators and their clashes with police last summer for low market attendance in 2020.
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.
Rockford City Market Received a Huge Anonymous Donation
The season of giving is alive and well in Rockford. This year more than ever it was important that the community really come together and support each other going into 2021. One of the big Rockford events that s needed some local love this past year is Rockford City Market.
At risk of closing, they asked the community for some support. And the 815 has been showing up in some really cool ways. According to WIFR -
The Rock River Development Partnership received a matching donation of $15,000 from some anonymous donors in their efforts to raise funds to help with the shortfall from the 2020 season of the Rockford City Market.