There is a festival-like atmosphere downtown Saturday for the Downtown Orillia Management Board’s (DOMB) first Vintage Market.
Grace Schofield, co-owner of Pocket Skate and Vintage, has had the vision for the market for a while, and it has already grown into something larger than what she imagined.
“I wanted it to be in a location that got a lot of foot traffic,” she said. “I approached the DOMB to see if we could close Parking Lot 5, and they said let’s close the whole street.”
There are more than 20 vendors at the market, and Schofield is thrilled with the number of people who are roaming the main street. She got the idea for the market from a shop in Bracebridge called Daughters of Indie.
“They are actually here today,” Schofield said. “They have hosted a couple of vintage markets that I’ve participated in.”
She says the Bracebridge markets have been successful, which is why she wanted to bring one to Orillia.
Saturday’s market includes vintage clothing, handmade clothing from re-purposed fabrics, home decor, and more.
“There are definitely a lot of different eras here today,” Schofield said. “I’ve seen stuff from the ’50s to the early 2000s.”
The event is running until 5 p.m., and Schofield is already calling it a success.
“There are tons of people walking around,” she said. “People are getting out and being present in our downtown. That’s a success in my eyes.”
She hopes the DOMB is open to hosting the event again.
“I would love to host one later in the summer again, maybe even in the fall,” she said.
The market is taking place along Mississaga Street between Peter and Front streets.
A complete list of events taking place this summer in downtown Orillia can be found here.
