Farmers Market season comes to a close

MOSES LAKE — Costumes and candy were in abundance at McCosh Park on Saturday as vendors came out for the final time this fall. The Moses Lake Farmers Market wrapped up its final event this fall on Saturday with a number of Halloween festivities to help cap off the season.

Thirty-six local vendors lined the walking paths at the park over the weekend in Moses Lake. Candy and a scavenger hunt kept kids and families entertained, with a special photo booth set up for pictures as well.

Weng-Cheong Lim served up customers at the Roasted Peanut Company booth at the market on Saturday, volunteering for a friend. After coming to the Moses Lake market on a tentative basis last year, Lim said, they have been back every Saturday this season.

He said they are already planning on being back every weekend next year and praised the leadership of the market on ending the season with a slew of holiday festivities.

“Working for the people in the community, what you need to do is come up with things for the family to bring them here,” Lim said. “And I think a lot of it comes back to the leaders of that particular farmers market.”

The more people that you can bring in, the more money that goes toward supporting the vendors, he said. Having the market still active this season was a nice silver lining for many vendors, giving them a chance to still get out and mix with customers.

Rachel Naff, with Tonnemaker Hill Farm of Royal City, said she’s been to the farmers market in Moses Lake almost every weekend this season. Having this season up and going was win-win for both customers and vendors, she said.

“People coming out get more fresh food and other homemade and crafted items, so I see it as a double win for everybody,” Naff said.

As patrons strolled among the booths on Saturday, Alysen Hesselroth filled the air with the sounds of Halloween with songs like “Monster Mash” and “Thriller.” Saturday was the second farmers market performance this season for Hesselroth, or “The Aly Way.”

“All week, just arranging Halloween songs got me in the mood for Halloween more than normal,” Hesselroth said. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to come out and do what I love to do, and make some money.”

The Othello native said she didn’t think she would get to play any gigs this year with COVID-19 making events few and far between, but she is hoping to schedule some more live performances.

Already planning some holiday performances online around Christmas, she said if people are interested in hiring her for virtual shows, they can contact her through social media.

“It’s never the same as performing live, so I’m super stoked to be here and see all the costumes and stuff,” Hesselroth said.

Moses Lake Farmers Market manager Dawn Leslie said this is the most vendors she has seen on a weekly basis since she took the position four years ago. From an average of about 37 a week, she said, there were upward of 60 vendors on some weekends.

“The amount of support that came from our community to show the local vendors, the local businesses, to keep those dollars in your community and feed your neighbors is so important,” Leslie said. “When all this is said and done, I hope that sticks in, to keep your dollars local, help your neighbors feed your friends.”

While the Halloween festivities were popular this year, Leslie said, most of the plans from this offseason had to be put on hold until next season. Next year, she said, she’s hoping to have a lot more activities for kids to bring families down to the park.

After ending the market on a high note, Leslie said, she is hoping the momentum from Saturday carries over to when the winter market kicks off in early December.

Emma Luna, her four children and her nephew made their rounds at the booths on Saturday, checking off all the boxes on their scavenger hunt sheets and collecting candy in the process. Luna said she and her family have been to the market about five or six times this year. She said her kids were really enjoying themselves, getting an early start on the trick-or-treating activities.

“It’s been great,” Luna said. “I’ve been home schooling the kids, so any little activity there is around town is great. It’s been a wonderful thing for the community.”

Casey McCarthy can be reached at cmccarthy@columbiabasinherald.com.