Over 60 local vendors, five food trucks, and a beer tent will be set up at an outdoor market on London Line this weekend.
Valley Axe, a sporting entertainment facility, has partnered with Girl Gang Canada, an online marketplace and collective of female entrepreneurs, to launch The Backyard Market.
"With [the pandemic] everybody has kind of had a pretty tough time, especially event spaces like Valley Axe," said business owner Jenni Bourque of Girl Gang Canada. "They reached out to Girl Gang just to kind of help plan the event. It started with the idea to help small businesses, to gain more exposure for them."
Vendors will sell products ranging from art pieces, jewelry, and clothing. Service vendors have also been invited to participate.
Bourque said the two-day outdoor market will be a family-friendly event, where even dogs are welcome.
"There's going to be a lot of activities for kids and there's going to be some vendors that support animals as well so bringing down your dog is totally cool," she said. "There's going to be enough there to keep everybody busy and entertained."
The Backyard Market logo. (Photo courtesy of Girl Gang Canada via Facebook)
The outdoor market is scheduled to take place at Valley Axe, located at 1886 London Line, on August 14 from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. and on August 15 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Valley Axe will remain open during regular business hours.
There is no entry fee, however, donations for the Women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton will be collected. Bourque said there will also be a 50/50 draw in support of the centre.
Further details about the outdoor market can be found on Girl Gang's event page. Tickets to attend a drag show after the outdoors market on August 14 can also be purchased through the website. "Party with the Queens" is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.