Parksville's Craig St. will again be the scene of one of the Island's largest street markets, Summer by the Sea. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

BLOCK IT OFF

‘We can use the market to help folks grow their business:’ Summer by the Sea returning in Parksville

Apr 11, 2022 | 10:42 AM

PARKSVILLE — Another summer staple on the mid Island has been included to the 2022 calendar.

The Summer by the Sea market, which shuts down multiple blocks on Craig St. in downtown Parksville every Tuesday night during the summer months, is returning following a two year hiatus.

Kim Burden, Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce executive director, told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re planning for upwards of 250 vendors to line both sides of the street beginning June 14.

“Lots of different products, variety and we’re even expanding that a little further hopefully this year by creating a farmer’s market section. This will allow us to broaden the scope of vendors to farm produce, farm product, homemade goods.”

Also included in expansion plans is space for local breweries and distilleries to showcase their requiring additional permitting.

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The market will run weekly on Tuesday nights for 12 weeks, wrapping Aug. 30.

Currently, around 110 vendor operators are registered.

Burden said many vendors new to the Parksville market will be on hand, something he’s excited about.

“There has been an increase in home based business and people losing their jobs or getting laid off during the pandemic, having some time to think about what they want to do going forward and it’s our hope maybe we can use the market to help folks grow their business and incubate it into something bigger and better.”

While not the typical Craig St. experience, the Chamber did operate a scaled down market on a weekly basis from their office parking lot on the Island Hwy. at the south end of town.

Burden said it was a bid to maintain momentum under less than ideal circumstances.

“It’s really hard to get something going again once its stopped and if you can just keep a little bit of flow, it’s easier to get things reinvigorated. It was our effort to try and provide what we could for the businesses who participate in the market.”

More information on registering for the market is available at the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce website.

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