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Ottawa Farmers Market returns Saturday with grand opening celebration · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: Ottawa Farmers Market returns Saturday with grand opening celebration. Written
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  by Bill Frescos, This article is being read by an
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  automated voice brought to you by Everlett. The Ottawa area
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  Farmers and Makers Market is set to open this weekend
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  for the summer, hosting a variety of local vendors, with
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  a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony planned on Saturday morning
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  to kick things off. One of the largest in the
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  Illinois Valley, the market will run eight am to twelve
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  thirty pm on every Saturday from May thirtieth through October
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  seventeenth in downtown Ottawa. Ottawa Chamber Executive director Jay McCracken
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  said the grand opening will feature live music, at least
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  twenty five vendors offering a wide variety of goods, and
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  a free raffle basket filled with products from local businesses.
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  The drawing is scheduled to take place before one pm Saturday.
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  McCracken said the market has become an important attraction for
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  both residents and visitors, while also helping support small businesses
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  throughout the area. One of the many local vendors is
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  pink Acres Flower Farm in Ottawa, which will be selling
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  at the market again for its third year and has
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  seen its business grow each summer because of the market.
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  I was new to the area when I started Pink
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  Acres Flower Farm, not knowing anyone here. Owner Tanya with
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  Sicki said the market has been wonderful for me, getting
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  to know so many people and seeing repeat customers year
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  after year, which I appreciate so much. The market vendors
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  are like family. We all support, help and cheer each other.
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  On Wasiki said she is looking forward to another busy
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  season at the market. My flowers make people happy and
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  that's what makes me happy. She said, I can't wait
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  to share more this season. Another participating vendor is with
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  Soap Works in Marseille, which will offer handcrafted soaps, smelts, lotions,
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  car fresheners and other products throughout the summer. The Ottawa
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  Farmers Market is such a great opportunity for local businesses
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  to connect with the community. Co owner Kati Kaufman said,
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  we have made some wonderful connections with other vendors and
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  community members. The market is also extremely affordable for vendors
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  and really lets businesses that are both small and large participate.
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  Before four vendors open up shop Saturday morning, members of
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  the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and others will meet for
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  a ribbon cutting at eight am on Jackson Street near
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  Washington Park. While you're visiting our beautiful town, be sure
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  to shop in our charming downtown boutique shops and enjoy
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  lunch or dinner in one of Ottawa's amazing restaurants. McCracken
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  said in a statement. Combining the farmers and Makers market
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  with our inviting downtown will provide an experience that is
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  sure to please every visitor.