A&E

McKinley Street renaissance welcomes pop-up market

McKinley Street is hosting a pop-up market every Saturday through December from 12 - 4 p.m. featuring all things local for holiday shopping and beyond. The market will be a venue for local handcrafted goods, vintage items and art from artists of all ages along with food trucks, lawn games and other entertainment.

McKinley Street is hosting a pop-up market every Saturday through December from 12 - 4 p.m. featuring all things local for holiday shopping and beyond. The market will be a venue for local handcrafted goods, vintage items and art from artists of all ages along with food trucks, lawn games and other entertainment.

The McKinley Saturday Market started on Oct. 22 during Better Block McKinley, which was a grassroots community effort to help re-envision the McKinley Street strip. McKinley Street was chosen because of its prime location between Downtown, UL Lafayette and Freetown-Port Rico neighborhood.

During Better Block, groups including The705, ReCover Acadiana, Freetown-Port Rico Neighborhood, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette Consolidated Government and the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority provided resources and technical assistance to create a one-day block party guiding public conversations about walkability, bikeability, public transportation, public space with public and private sector investments.

The event also launched the McKinley Saturday Market to offer low-cost booths housed under a semi-permanent tent for artists and vendors to showcase and sell their artwork and other items.

In coordination with Better Block McKinley, Acadiana ArtWorks teamed up to offer the semi-permanent tent and other improvements geared toward offering a local market to help boost the local art economy. Acadiana ArtWorks provides public art through a sustainable program that promotes our culture through enhancing our community and our students.

Vendors featuring art, clothing, food or other items are encouraged to contact [email protected] for a spot. Early-bird vendor Fee is only $20 until Nov. 1. Volunteers are also encouraged and welcomed to donate their talents, muscles or musical abilities.

Dates for the McKinley Street Market are Oct. 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19 & 26; and December 3, 10 & 17 from 12 - 4 p.m. For more information visit AcadianaArtWorks.org or find them on Facebook.