The Castlegar Craft and Farmers Market has opened up for the season.
The market will be held at the Castlegar Station Museum every Saturday through the summer beginning June 20 with vendors selling their products between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Organizer Deb McIntosh says things will look a little different at the market this year as COVID-19 protocols will be put into place.
The change will be noticeable right away as there will now be one entrance and one exit to the market. There will also be a limited number of customers allowed in at the same time, and McIntosh says social distancing will be strictly enforced.
Other measures will include requiring guests to use hand sanitizer, no sampling, no mingling, no live music, no washrooms and no cash payments whenever possible.
“We realize that some people will not want to adhere to the rules,” said McIntosh. “But we have to knuckle down and remember there are vulnerable people out there.”
There were 18 vendors the first week and McIntosh expects the market to grow as the season progresses.
“We ask people give us a chance to get the market going and our vendors in place,” said McIntosh. “Just be kind and gentle with one another and it will be another good season where we can support local and everybody will benefit in the end.”