By Laurelle Walsh
Now only two Mazama Markets remain on the calendar this summer – Aug. 21 and Aug. 28.
Wednesday’s (Aug. 14) theme was “Flight,” according to market maven Dr. Ann Diamond. Attendees participated in an airplane-building contest, and airplanes flying over the market site made “prize drops” for people on the ground to retrieve.
The August 21 market theme is “Eggs-travaganza.” Egg-y games will include the egg toss, and an egg-passing race. Gamesters may also try acting like penguins by carefully transferring eggs from foot to foot.
August 28 will mark the final Mazama Market of the year with a harvest celebration. Activities will include apple cider pressing as well as a lively marimba ensemble, Diamond said.
The market provides an opportunity for Mazamites (and others) to take a break from their busy summer activities and socialize, while also picking up a week’s worth of fresh, locally grown produce, according to Diamond. “Our motto is ‘Fresh people, fresh produce,’” she said.
“Whether it’s kids bouncing up and down with excitement over the raffle, or an older couple sharing a bottle of wine, market goers are a spectrum of individuals who otherwise might not hang out together,” Diamond said.
And the market’s regular vendors – Smallwood Farms, Dave Ford and Nancy Leland, Heidi Bard, and Nan Walker – say Mazama is their best market because regular market-goers expect to get their fruit and vegetables there, Diamond added.
“New vendors are always welcome, and there is no market fee,” Diamond said.
The Mazama Market runs every Wednesday until Labor Day from 5-7 p.m. on the lawn of the Mazama Community Center.
Aug. 15: This story has been updated.
