Local artisans keep Farmers Market humming into winter

Looking to un-plug more of your holiday shopping this year -- locally, sustainably, and sanely? Now you don’t even have to wake up at the crack of dawn.

Inspired in part by the long-running Union Square holiday market in New York, the Highland Park Artisan Market will open on Black Friday, November 25, and continuing Fridays through December 23 in the municipal paved lot at 222 Raritan Avenue, .

The new craft and foods market will fill the same Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. time slot as the Jersey Fresh Farmers Market, which closed for the season last week.

“We really want to capitalize on the opportunity to keep the downtown hopping after the Farmers Market ends," says Jenni Chapman, the co-owner of Through The Moongate gallery and Over The Moon Toys. "This seems like a perfect way to transition out of the harvest season and into the holiday shopping season.”

The market is being organized by Main Street Highland Park, with the help of volunteers from the local community.

The Intersect Fund, a New Brunswick-based non-profit that offers services to local entrepreneurs, is involved as well. The holiday season and artisan focus offer a good match for a number of Intersect’s client businesses in the food and hospitality industries.

In addition, some of the vendors from the Farmers Market will be staying on for the Artisan Market, said Main Street H.P.'s Paul Lanaris. Confirmed organic Jersey Fresh vendors from the Farmers Market include Baker’s Bounty, Hoboken Farms, and Cherry Grove Farm.

While there will be one food artisan selling jams and sauces from the Catskills, the majority of the foods and art in the market will be locally produced. At press time, the list of vendors was still growing, but already includes A Better World Café, Over The Moon Toys, Stage Stars, Through The Moongate, the Tower Thrift Shop, and White Lotus Home.

Main Street Highland Park is also working to have live music for at least a part of every market day.

 

Although December’s weather can be dicey, shoppers should not be deterred by snow or rain; in the case of inclement weather, the Reformed Church of Highland Park has offered to host the market inside its building, located just off the Market lot.

 

Parking for the Artisan Market will be available on alternate sides of Raritan Avenue as the sidewalk and roadbed work continues through the month; on one side of Magnolia Street; and on South Third and South Second Avenues. Handicapped accessible parking is available in the southern portion of the Farmers Market lot itself.

"The Artisan Market is a very exciting addition to the downtown mix," says Jamie McCrone, executive director of Main Street Highland Park. "There is also the possibility that one of the merchants at the Market might find Highland Park so profitable and otherwise irresistible that they look to open a permanent shop here."

It’s not too late to sign up to perform music, or sell your wares at a table, in December – interested parties should contact Paul Lanaris at Main Street Highland Park at 732.828-8444.

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