Mixing it up on Sunday mornings in Washington Park, the Oak Bluffs Open Market is one part flea market and one part artisan fair, with a dash of farmers’ market and a hit of live music to round things off. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from now until Sept. 15, a lively mix of vendors sells everything from wampum jewelry to birdbaths, baby potatoes to eggrolls.
Yes, those eggrolls — the ones with the long lines at the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market, made by Thi Khen Tran’s grandson, Anh Phan Ho. Another familiar farmers’ market vendor, 95-year-old farmer Bob Daniels, along with his daughter Lynne Daniels, brings flowers, jams and baby potatoes from Old Town Gardens to the Oak Bluffs Open Market every Sunday.
Every Sunday, that is, unless the heat index is pushing 100 degrees, as it was during one recent market. On that particular day, plenty of vendors did tough it out, and Carlos Cachimuel of Native Spirits said business was good. He sold a lot of his popular friendship bracelets, some made by family in Otavalo, Ecuador. He was also well-stocked with cotton dresses from India, pan flutes, and dream catchers. Like other vendors, Mr. Cachimuel also participates in the Chilmark Flea Market and the Featherstone Flea.
The market-goers who braved the heat were rewarded with original songs by Nashville singer Jenny Teator, accompanied by Vineyard musician Andy Herr and singer Gabby Greco. Different musicians perform every Sunday in the grassy park, making it an ideal place to entertain small children who need room to move.
Packing up her pollinator birdbaths — cleverly made by piecing together glass thrift store vases and pie plates — Island teacher Rachel Araujo was still cheery. “Drab to Fab is my hobby. I love finding my materials by shopping at thrift stores like Chicken Alley and the Boys and Girls’ Club,” she said. And heat wave or not, vendor Gwen Nichols, who’s been making wampum jewelry for 31 years, shows up at every market. “And at the end of September, we go inside to the Ocean View restaurant on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” she said.
The Oak Bluffs Open Market was founded and is organized by Kathleen Cowley, owner of New Moon Magick’s Enchanted Chocolates. For more information about the market, visit the market’s Facebook page.
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