The Elbert County Marketplace has been around for more than 15 years. The current location, just off Highway 86 in Casey Jones Park in Elizabeth, is nestled beneath a huge stand of pine trees that provide welcome shade in the summer. The market describes itself as a “year-round indoor/outdoor market in Elbert County, Colorado, featuring local farmers, artisans and vendors.”
On August 3, a sunny Saturday, the market square was bustling with vendors and shoppers, even though the Elbert County Fair just down the highway drew a large crowd. The market square offers a huge variety of goods, from fruits and vegetables, homemade breads and candy to jewelry, bath products and handmade clothing and home goods. The vendors come from Elizabeth, as well as nearby towns like Kiowa and Parker, and even Larkspur.
The cold winter weather does not slow down the market. On the contrary, the Christmas season attracts many shoppers who want to buy Christmas products.
Jodi Miller, one of the volunteer organizers and vendors, says the Elbert County Marketplace is not for profit. Tyler Balfour and Shaina Borah of Forest Trail Farm also help organize the event. No one gets paid, Miller explained, and money from reserving a booth goes toward renting the Casey Jones Pavilion or promoting the event itself. People help set up, hang event banners, and even the live music by Steve & Friends is free.
Miller organizes the vendors – what days they will be present and where to set up their booths. She also makes sure there is a wide variety of products. She goes to great lengths to keep costs down, and without the help of Elizabeth Park & Recreation, it wouldn’t be possible. “They’ve been great,” she said.
It’s easy to see how close-knit the traders in the marketplace are with one another. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie and community, and everyone has a kind word to say about each other.
In fact, Miller calls the Marketplace community her “Saturday Friends.” She explained that they are building a community of “growers, artists, crafters,” and more. The event brought them all together; without it, Miller said, many of them would never have met each other.
Kelly Smith, owner and operator of the Larkspur Farmers Market, sells an impressive selection of fruits and vegetables, eggs and homemade preserves at the Elbert County Marketplace. Smith has deep ties to the farmers market community. Her aunt founded the Parker Farmers Market and the Southlands Farmers Market, both of which are now extremely popular.
Most vendors participate in other farmers markets or marketplaces nearby. Miller also visits Ahavah Farm, a year-round market in Peyton, every Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about Ahavah Farm, visit ahavahfarm.com/market.
The Larkspur Farmers Market is held every Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit thelarkspurfarmersmarket.com.
The Elbert County Marketplace is held year-round on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find upcoming dates on Facebook at tinyurl.com/elbmktfb and online at tinyurl.com/elbmkt.
