IIB also kicking off fall bulb sale

 

With the momentum the Ironton Farmers Market has gained in recent weeks, organizers are pushing forward with a special celebration Saturday.

Sponsored by Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, the celebration will feature musical acts, local artists, a book sale and all the fresh produce and baked goods customers of the market have come to expect.

Sam Heighton, market manager, said the market’s grand opening in June went so well more events were planned for the season, including a corn festival earlier this month hosted by Ironton In Bloom.

“We had planned a lot of things, and it had been better that what we thought,” Heighton said. “…We pick up new people every time we do that (have special events).”

Saturday, the market opens at 7 a.m. with music beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the Charley Cooke Band. The Ironton High School Varsity Singers will perform at 11 a.m.

The Ironton Artists Association will return to the market for more art demonstrations and a sidewalk sale. There will also be a book sale and kettle corn for sale.

Heighton said he was looking for street performers to perform downtown.

“I’ve thought about this for a long time,” Heighton said. “Some of the bigger cites you see street performers a lot. Singers, mimes. I think that would be a great location there.”

Anyone wishing to perform can contact Heighton at (740) 532-7951.

Heighton said without the support of area hospitals, the special events and downtown concerts wouldn’t have been possible.

“I have no idea how much they have spent, but we couldn’t have done anything special like we’ve done,” he said.

Also in conjunction with the market celebration, Ironton In Bloom will kick off its annual fall bulb fundraiser.

Carol Allen, IIB president, said the bulb sale is a way to raise money for the maintenance of the plants downtown in a format that fits the civic club’s beautification philosophy.

Bulbs available will be daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, crocus, Asiatic lilies, iris and some variety assortments.

“Anyone who wants to support us by purchasing a package of bulbs, but doesn’t want to plant them, can give them to us and we will plant them,” Allen said.

Some of the bulbs that have be donated back to the IIB have been planted on the medians on Railroad Street and at the entrances to the city.

Allen said the bulb sales have been successful in past years and thought the Farmers Market would be a good place to kick off the event.

“We are trying to make a partnership and bring more people down to the market,” Allen said.

Anyone wanting to order bulbs but can’t make it to the market can email the group at irontoninbloom@gmail.com.