“Let’s root for one another and watch one another develop.” That motto of the Small City Dreamers Market appears becoming with many specialised vendor festivals and small-town outside markets. The seller festivals deliver collectively like-minded folks to share their passions and purchase and promote their items. Small city markets are shops for native farmers and artisans to promote their merchandise, making the markets a number of the greatest methods to maintain your purchases native, and put a face to a web-based enterprise identify.
Bloom Spring Distributors Market
Store a curated collection of native artisans, crafters and distributors providing distinctive, handmade items.
Admission is free and meals, espresso and cocktails can be obtainable from Wm. Van’s Cafe and Trish & Mary’s Pub, so you’ll be able to dine and sip whilst you store.
Saturday, March 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, March 23, 12-3 p.m., 107 W. Cook dinner St., 217-679-3287. Free admission.
Midwest Toy and Comedian Fest
Billed as “the final word celebration of nerd and popular culture,” greater than 100 vendor cubicles can be crammed with video games, anime, comics, toys and memorabilia. Guests can participate within the silent charity public sale, costume contest, online game contest, stay superstar panels and a featured Cosplay Nook.
On Sunday, all occasions can be geared towards households and kids, and people ages 13 and beneath can be admitted free with an grownup.
Maybe one of many greatest attracts of the fest are the superstar visitors. This yr’s occasion will embody the voice actors of fashionable cartoon characters corresponding to Squidward Tentacles from SpongeBob SquarePants (Roger Bumpass) and Ed from Ed, Edd n Eddy (Matt Hill).
Guests can even meet Invoice Morrison, an American comedian e-book artist, author and editor, recreation artist Paul E. Niemeyer, Garrett Sanders, creator of the Monster Excessive and Ever After Excessive toy strains and radio persona Tattoo Babii.
Admission is $5, parking is free, and meals vans can be onsite.
Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Illinois State Fairgrounds, Orr Constructing, 217-622-5448
Outdated Capitol Farmers Market
Springfield’s longest-running market, and the most important producer-only market in Illinois exterior of Chicago, continues by April. Right here you’ll discover baked items, meat, produce, crafts, houseware and extra. The favored market is held indoors at Union Station in the course of the winter months and can transfer again outdoor in Could.
March 22, April 5 and April 19, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Union Sq. Park, 541 E. Jefferson St. Free admission.
Spring Garden and Backyard Sale
A perennial favourite within the Springfield space. Not solely will you discover quite a lot of vegetation and flowers from AB Hatchery & Backyard Middle of Bloomington, Greenview Backyard Middle and Williamsville FFA greenhouse, however additionally, you will discover backyard artwork, provides, grills, mowers, decks and panorama provides. Look ahead to pop-up markets with extra native distributors.
Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Illinois State Fairgrounds, Orr Constructing, 217-528-3033. Free admission.
Buying and selling Palms Youngsters Sale
You’ll discover hundreds of high-quality, gently used gadgets for newborns to teenagers and extra at this three-day consignment sale. Search for spring and summer time garments and footwear, toys, child gear and nursery gadgets, sports activities gear, books and furnishings.
Thursday and Friday, April 10 and 11, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Illinois State Fairgrounds, Orr Constructing. Free admission.
Small City Dreamers Market
Whereas the market began with a handful of distributors in 2020, it has grown to incorporate boutique gadgets, house items, baked and cottage meals, home vegetation, textiles, antiques and crafted jewellery. Just a few direct sale distributors, corresponding to Scentsy, Paper Pie and Pink Aspen, can even be onsite.
The market additionally gives a fantastic alternative for native nonprofits to advertise their causes. Count on to see representatives from the Raymond Canine Park, Farmersville Revitalization Committee, Knights of Columbus and others. Get pleasure from stay music within the park and discover loads of good meals.
April 12, Could 10, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 516 Elevator St., Farmersville, 217-710-6262. Free admission.
Spring Market
Distributors can be arrange within the Brinkerhoff Mansion and in Becker Library. Boutique vans can be exterior with the meals vans, together with locations to take a seat to eat and luxuriate in stay music, climate allowing. Just a few direct gross sales distributors corresponding to JBloom, PaperPie and Pampered Chef can even be there.
All the proceeds will go towards the upkeep, restoration and preservation of the Brinkerhoff Mansion in addition to the music conservatory of the previous Ursuline Academy, and representatives from Ursuline Alumni can be there to advertise initiatives on campus.
Admission is $3 (ages 13 and beneath are free). Parking is alongside Fifth Avenue and on the campus parking zone Sixth and Keyes streets.
April 12, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Brinkerhoff Mansion, 1500 N. Fifth St., 217- 361-5555.
Virden 4th Sunday Market
That is the third yr for the market, and it continues to develop. In keeping with organizers, something goes on the market – antiques and collectibles, crafts and flea market gadgets, cash, baseball playing cards and film posters – you identify it, they’ll have it. Some direct gross sales distributors, corresponding to Scentsy and Tupperware, can even be arrange.
In all, greater than 60 vendor cubicles can be each inside and out of doors, and it’s a rain-or-shine occasion.
April 27, June 22, August 24 and Oct. 26, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Virden Knights of Columbus Corridor, 1320 N. Dye St., Virden, 217-891-6514. Free admission.
Litchfield Pickers Market
The downtown Litchfield market, which obtained the Nice Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau’s 2024 Finest Competition Award, attracts guests from so far as 200 miles away for this vacation spot occasion.
As a juried vintage sale, the distributors are beneath contract to solely promote merchandise manufactured previous to 1985, and vintage jurors peruse the distributors’ gadgets to make sure that customary of high quality is maintained.
Artisan and farmers market distributors are on Monroe Avenue solely and promote textiles, cottage meals and baked items, native produce and honey, handmade jewellery, crafted wooden merchandise and furnishings, and boutique clothes.
Take heed to stay music in Carnegie Park all day and discover avenue meals at nearly each nook out there space.
Could 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14 and Oct. 12, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 400 N. State Avenue, Litchfield, 217-324-8147. Free admission.
Illinois Product Farmers Market
Discover contemporary, native and all-Illinois merchandise each Thursday afternoon. The market is a part of the Illinois Division of Agriculture’s Illinois Product Brand Program, which promotes shopping for native as “a dedication to supporting Illinois communities and financial system.”
Rejoice opening day on Could 15 with over 30 Illinois distributors who will characteristic farm-fresh produce with native meats, handmade items and specialty treats. Then, sip on Illinois wine and craft beer, attempt scrumptious bites from native favorites and luxuriate in stay music, prizes and giveaways, corresponding to tickets to Illinois State Honest occasions and reward baskets.
Household actions are free, and the children can get their faces painted and take part video games and tie-dye crafts.
Each Thursday, 3:30-7 p.m., Illinois State Fairgrounds, The Shed (enter by Gate 3), 217-558-0788. Free admission.
Springfield Comedian & Toy Present
Distributors, artists and guests can be packing the venue the place you’ll discover tournaments, a cosplay showcase and random drawings all through the day. It’s going to even be the proper alternative to get your arms on classic video video games, Pokémon, artwork, motion figures, posters, comedian books, Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars paraphernalia and extra.
June 8, Crowne Plaza, 3000 South Dirksen Parkway.
