Saturday Market
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Visitors find Eugene to be a crafty city
By STEVE MYERS
Of the Emerald
The Saturday Market,
Eugene’s weekend alternative
to the shopping center, is en
tering its tenth year of operation
and promises local shoppers
the best that area craftspeople
have to offer
Every Saturday, rain or shine
from May to December, artisans
and craftspeople gather at the
parking plaza across the street
from the Lane County Court
house at Eighth Avenue and
Oak Street. They come from all
over the county to display their
wares and services
Merchants set up outdoor
stalls in about 225 predesignat
ed sites, offering a variety of
items from ornate leather crafts
to exotic Arabian food. In fact, if
it's made by hand, a prospective
buyer can probably find it at the
market If not, the buyer can
usually find someone who can
and will make it on consign
ment.
Established in May 1970 with
only 29 vendors, the Saturday
Market has grown into the
area's largest outlet for crafts
people and artisans. For years
the market has been an institu
tion in the downtown area,
drawing large crowds every
weekend — if the weather s
right. People come from all over
the county seeking a good buy
or just a good time
In addition to usual hand
f
made items, home-grown and
ready-to-eat foods, the market
has a constant flow of enter
tainment All day tong, area mu
sicians and actors perform for
whomever will watch and they
don’t charge a cent, though
donations are gladly accepted
There were three main rea
sons for the birth of the Satur
day Market in 1970: a large
number of local artisans and
craftspersons and a public in
terest in buying and using
crafts; an abundance of local
produce and no downtown out
let since the closure of the
Farmers’ Market in the 1950s;
and a dying downtown in need
of revitalizing.
Besides the market, Eugene
boasts three other major craft
outlets
The Fifth Street Public Market
is open seven days a week and
is a miniature version of the
weekend market, but it has a
few added extras Located on
the southwest corner of Fifth
and High Streets, this market
boasts a casual atmosphere.
On the main level, several
restaurants offer a variety of
foods from Greek to Mexican.
Also on this floor, merchants
display hand-made crafts such
as original scenic photography
and crystal glass-work In the
basement of the building.bulk
foods are sold — meat produce
and bakery goods
Musicians are encouraged to
perform in the restaurant area
or in the courtyard just west of
the mam building
Recently it was announced
that the Fifth Street Public Mar
ket will be expanding, the
number of merchants in the
building is expected to expand
also
The Jefferson Elevator, a
grain elevator-turned-market
place at Third Avenue and Jef
ferson Street, offers shoppers
many of the same products,
from tie-dyed baby clothing to
an ice cream parlor
Made In Oregon, located
across the street from the Fifth
Street Public Market, opened
three years ago in April and
provides a marketplace for at
least 60 merchants specializing
tn handmade furniture and fix
tures.
On June 29 through July 1.
artisans and craftspeople from
all over the state will gather near
Veneta, west of Eugene, for the
Oregon Country Fair Thou
sands of people attend the craft
festival and enjoy nature, live
music and natural foods for the
three-day event.
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