The Golden Farmers’ Market opened for the 2009 summer season last week.

Despite a week of rainy days, merchants and visitors came out to the market on June 24 to start the season off with a bang. There were stands of fresh produce, and wares made by local artisans that were set up in the CP Rail lot across from downtown.

The market opened for buyers at 2 p.m., and although the wind made keeping wares on the racks, and tents from lifting off, difficult, the weather did not stop people from coming out.

“There is a huge increase in the popularity of farmers’ markets across the country, and looking at the great turn out today of market-goers and vendors, that is very evident,” said Lee Bedford, an organizer and vendor at the Golden Farmers’ Market.

A variety of items were for sale at the market. Visitors were able to purchase items for the dinner table like fresh produce, bread and honey. There were also lots of artisan wares for sale, such as soaps, jewellery and pottery.

The location of the market is not only situated adjacent to Highway 95, but also next to the railway. As vendors ply their wares the sound of the trains chugging by provides a well-known Golden backdrop.

This year the market has acquired a new tent that will be used as the music tent to host the musicians during the market. The electricity for the music is provided by the Rondo Motel.

“We are hoping folks will plan on spending some time at the market, maybe even bring a lawn chair, enjoy a hot dog from Shari’s Hot Dog Stand and sit and listen to the music - that is of course after checking out the vendors’ tables,” said Bedford.

The season was kicked off with a performance by John Jenkins, and there are already a number of musicians lined up for the rest of the summer.

At Wednesday’s market, the Town of Golden had a tent set-up for visitors to paint tiles that will adorn the new spirit square. A number of tiles have already been collected through events such as the Relay for Life, and at school visits.

“We are getting people to paint a tile about what Golden means to them,” said Jaylene Bodner, a summer intern with the Town of Golden. “The only rule is that they have to put their name on it.”

Once the tiles have been collected, and as the spirit square nears completion, the finished tiles will be displayed for everyone to see.

“We have already done 250 tiles and we need 500,” said Bodner. “We will do an ad to let people know when we will do the painting.”

The Golden Farmers’ Market will be taking place every Wednesday throughout the summer, in the parking lot beside the Chamber of Commerce, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.