A second successful season of the Rockford City Market designed to boost interest in downtown revitalization comes to an end today.
This year’s market easily eclipsed last year in terms of size and popularity. It featured 63 vendors and heading into the final market is nearing 40,000 visitors, said Cathy McDermott, manager of the Downtown Entrepreneurship Project. Last year, the market drew an estimated 19,000 visitors.
“We have had really positive responses from restaurants and downtown businesses,” McDermott said. “They want us to do more of these things and tell us that it really helps their businesses.”
McDermott said the market has been successful in drawing renewed interest and activity in downtown Rockford, things that appeared a daunting task before it started in the spring of 2010. Now she is attempting to spur vendors to turn their operations into more permanent businesses in the downtown.
Today, the beloved master of smooth jazz Harlan Jefferson performs live. There will be kids activities including a costume parade at 6 p.m. with treats for the first 50 kids dressed in costume. There will also be pumpkin decorating with pumpkins available for the first 50 children.
The city market is a street market from 3 to 7 p.m. today on Water Street between State and Jefferson. It features fresh produce, crafts, art, live music, food and beer.
