On the verge of summer, the third season of the Oak Bay night market is fast approaching.
Visitors to the multi-faceted marketplace of produce, crafts, baked goods and other curiosities in Oak Bay Village will find more variety on virtually all fronts, said Liz Smith, Oak Bay Business Improvement Association president.
“It’s a great place for people to come down and grab a bite after work and have a look around,” she said.
“We’ve got lots of green and organic products … We have good artists coming in and there’s lots of children’s clothing and toys.”
Among the new vendors is a maker of handcrafted hats. “Some are quite retro and some are quite modern. With the Royal Wedding especially, there’s been a lot of interest in hats.”
Once again, entertainment will be a part of the market, with dancers and musicians performing at either end of the Avenue. And the BIA hopes to improve upon the nearly $3,000 it raised for cancer research last year with its Cops for Cancer barbecue.
Many merchants normally closed in the evenings will also be open, with some hosting special events.
For people used to a sleepy Village, the market “brings that sense of café culture and European spirit to the Avenue for one night a month,” Smith said.
The market happens rain or shine from 4 to 8 p.m. June 15, July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 21.
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