Event: The Red Barn Outdoor Market

The Red Barn Outdoor Market (facebook.com/TheRedBarnOutdoorMarket), one of the area's most popular and fast-growing handmade and vintage events, is taking place this Saturday, April 26th.  It's a big day for lots of people in the local crafting community, and I am so thrilled that Nicole, the lady behind it all, took a moment to have a email chat with me.  Want to know more about the market?  Read this, then come out on Saturday!  For directions, times, and more vendor info, visit the official facebook event here: facebook.com/events/1420426054867358/ 

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Slow Living ICT: What made you decide you wanted to start a market like this?

Nicole:  I have a group of very industrious friends and one evening we were joking around about putting on our own little market with the goods that we all had. I think every one else WAS actually just joking, but the idea kept coming and going in my head.  In 2011, I attended a couple different venues; one, The Kansas Barn Sale and the other, ICT Bazaar. Two very different venues, but both offered some really great inspiration. Through a series of funny conversations and events, the option to actually do an event became a reality and The Red Barn Outdoor Market was created.

SLI:  What kind of vendors do you have?

N:  The goal of the market is to create community. I want people to buy goods from the many small business owners who put a lot of time and effort into preparing for this; I want the food trucks to sell out of everything because people enjoyed every last bite that they had to offer; I want the musicians talents and skills to be heard and enjoyed throughout the day. But ultimately, I just want to create a place where people matter and they know it.

At this Spring market, we have a good mix of Vendors selling handcrafted items, repurposed items, and many dealers with Primitives, Antiques, and Vintage treasures/junk.

Stationary and potted succulents by The Olive Creative.

SLI:  What is your favorite thing about this event?

N:  I think my favorite thing about the market is the planning. (hahahaha!) That sounds kind of funny (and really kind of geeky), but when I begin plans for each market, I go in with the mindset that everything will work out the way it's supposed to. It may not be the way that I had planned for it to happen, but everything always works out and I love seeing how that unfolds.  

I also really love being outdoors, listening to incredible music, and eating amazing food while getting to shop for all of my favorite things. 

SLI:  What are some challenges in organizing and hosting a market like this?

N:  The challenges of hosting/organizing the market are just balancing the analytical side of how everything is actually going to work the day of the market, ie: the layout, the parking, the Kansas wind blowing everything over, the possibility of rain/mud versus the relational side of considering the needs/wants of the many people working and attending.

SLI:  Is there anything else you'd like to mention about the 2014 Spring market?

N:  I'm really excited about this Spring's market. We took the Fall off to give ourselves time to transition into a new home and welcome a new little lady into the family, and it feels good to get back to it now. I'm humbled and amazed that this little idea that turned into a really big dream IS a reality now, and other people besides myself actually really love it, too.

Handmade, repurposed items by From Victory Road.