Pearl Lorentzen
Lakeside Leader

The All Season Market and Slave Lake Farmers Market have joined forces to offer some seasonal shopping in the Slave Lake Multi Rec Centre (MRC).
Since 2013, Melissa Baxter and Chelsea Saluk have organized All Season Markets around major holidays: Valentines, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. This year, with COVID-19, the Easter market didn’t happen. Last year, it joined forces with the Slave Lake Farmers Market.

The Halloween Market will be October 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the field house at the MRC. Admission is free, but the number of customers is limited to 60. Vendors are limited to 60. Many of these vendors have already booked their tables. Vendors can book with either market organization.

All Seasons has “a little space for vendors,” says Baxter. These range from home-based businesses to crafters.

Megan McNeil of the farmer’s market has sold 23 of her 30 tables. These include a honey and mead (alcohol made out of honey), First Nations Attire which sells animal t-shirts, baking and canning, and other farmer’s market vendors. There won’t be vegetables, but may be BC fruit. As of Oct. 14, McNeil hadn’t confirmed with the fruit vendor.

Costumes are encouraged, says Baxter. Also, some vendors will have trick-or-treat candy available. Unfortunately, there won’t be pumpkin decorating or craft making for kids this year. These had to be excluded because of COVID restrictions.

Customers may have to wait in a social distancing line for entry, says Baxter. Also, everyone who enters the market must give their name, phone number, and address for contact tracing. This is a COVID-19 requirement.
The Christmas market is tentatively booked for December 5. The organizers are hoping to have a social distancing Santa, but haven’t worked out the kinks. There won’t be cookie decorating or games.