Victorian Square is the place to be on Thursday nights to mingle with the community, pick up some local produce, enjoy live music, and more. Now in its third year, 39 North Downtown brings the 39 North Marketplace back to the corner of Victorian Avenue and 10th Street with farm-fresh food, local artisans, educational activities for kids, food demonstrations, and more from 4-9 p.m.
“The events are going good. Artown is currently going on and we just had Ardi Baltza (who performed a Basque ballet) and Errebal (a 4-piece band from Basque Country),” says 39 North’s Angela Handler. The celebration of Basque culture continues for the July 20 and July 27 Marketplaces with family-friendly games to participate in such as tug-o-war and corn cob racing.
At the upcoming July 20 Marketplace, Laughing Owl Productions, will be performing popular Basque folktale “The Magic Stick” to be held at 4:30 p.m. in the St. Mary’s Amphitheater followed by Basque music duo Margo Cilker performing from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the Great Basin stage. Kids will have the opportunity to participate in crafts, receive Basque coloring pages, and climb aboard Engine 39 for free train rides and a game of Muse in Lillard Park from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Ardi Baltza will be coming back for the July 27 Marketplace for a performance from 4pm-6pm followed by NOKA, a trio of women of Basque descent, performing from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“We’ve had 48-60 vendors (at every 2017 Marketplace event) range from farmers to arts and crafts vendors, photographers, and direct sales,” says Handler, noting that most of them are from the Northern Nevada area.
Personally, Handler enjoys visiting with local farmers and specialty foods available. “I like being able to get every kind of produce in season right now and it’s important to support local agriculture,” she says. Along with live music and themed events, every Marketplace always features chef demonstrations and kids activities.
“The educational kid zone is pretty cool- there are all kinds of crafts in our Tinker Garden that kids really enjoy,” Handler adds. 39 North is also partnering with United Blood Services to sponsor a Blood Drive held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. during the 2017 Marketplaces.
The remaining 39 North Marketplaces will be held July 20, 27, and August 3, 17. For more information about 39 North Downtown events, visit http://www.39northdowntown.com.
“We invite people to come out and see the changes to the farmer’s market from previous years- now it’s more of a true marketplace. There is something for everyone here- it’s a nice way to spend a Thursday night,” says Handler.
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