BTV Market returns to Burlington's City Hall Park with crafts, food and music

Calling all lovers of local art, crafts, food and music ? the BTV Market is back for its third summer season. Expect to see City Hall Park lined with the tents and tables from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1, and every Saturday until Sept. 28.

Every weekend will feature a different lineup of 40 vendors, with a total of about 100 vendors spanning the season. "There are new vendors each week, so there's always something new to walk around and see," Assistant Director of Downtown Projects and Events Samantha McGinnis said.

A complete list of the vendors and what weekends they will be attending can be found on the Love Burlington website.

There will be four to six food vendors every market, with an emphasis on international food. There will also be designated areas for various activities, many being kid-focused, including an inflatable playground and chairs and the splashpad. Live music can also be expected every weekend, with a band playing between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., followed by a DJ from 1 to 3 p.m.

It's a year of "finetuning," according to McGinnis. The market has been growing since its conception and she hopes that it can continue to be a place to meet up and spend time with friends, family and neighbors.

Businesses flourishing

The collaboration between Love Burlington and Burlington City Arts began as a winter market in 2020 as a way to provide safer shopping experiences in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and support the local creative economy during that time. The two groups found they worked well together and wanted to expand the market, and there have been enough local artists ready to fill the booths.

"A huge part of our mission is helping these small businesses within Burlington and giving them a way to grow and reach a market they may not otherwise have an opportunity to vend in, especially with this being in the heart of the city," McGinnis said. "On top of that, art and music are things that bring us all together."

Some small businesses seemed to have flourished with the chance at a new audience. Sabah's House is a vendor that began at the BTV Market and now has its own food truck that frequents the South End Get Down from 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays on Pine Street and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays on Church Street. McGinnis said this is the type of growth they hope for all vendors, ideally with many being able to establish a brick-and-mortar location one day.

What's the construction in City Hall Park?

If you see some taped off sections or construction equipment in the park, it's just the initial stages of a new food and beverage kiosk being built. Workers are currently running water, power and the sewer system into it. The kiosk was initially part of the original City Hall Park redesign in 2020, but funds couldn't support its building. Now, it's ready to go in and provide residents with seasonal snacks. The project is projected to be completed by mid-summer, with McGinnis saying she hopes it will be functioning in July.

McGinnis said that for those who want a "market day," BTV is only a 10-minute walk to the Burlington Farmers Market. For those who won't be doing as much walking, the downtown parking garage and the garage underneath the Burlington Courthouse will be available for parking, along with street parking.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: BTV Market expects over 100 vendors to City Hall Park in Burlington VT