Hundreds flock to Festival Market

COURTNEY BRYCE
The Edmond Sun

June 16, 2007 11:44 pm

— Typical of a Saturday morning, hundreds of people flocked to the Edmond Farmers Market with children and family members in tow. However, Saturday marked the first Route 66 Festival and Farmers Market.
“It’s an event celebrating farmers markets along Route 66,” said Terry Lanham, Festival Market Place manager.
In Edmond, Route 66 follows Second Street coming from Arcadia Lake and turns south on Broadway Extension.
The festival had the normal 40-50 vendors but featured the Antique Tractor Club from Cashion, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and face painting.
The event lasted until 4 p.m. and Lanham said her hope was to get people out that don’t usually come to the market because of the early hours.
“I think once they are out here, they’ll be hooked,” she said. “One thing I’m really thrilled about it is we have people of all ages.”
For one father and daughter the farmers market is a Saturday tradition. Ken Kronenberger and his 13-year-old daughter, Carolyn, always start the morning off by buying breakfast burritos from a food vendor.
“We’re on a budget,” he said. “I bring $20 and I hand it to my daughter and when we run out, we’re done.”
Kronenberger said they buy whatever smells fresh. He said as a guy he does not make trips to the grocery store.
Resident Jayme Hopson also frequents the farmers market. Her 4-year-old son, Cohen, made special use of the face-painting booth.
“I want a cat,” he said.
Hopson said she enjoys buying locally and also grows her own peaches at home.
“We have good peaches at home so it’s good to teach (Cohen) you can do it yourself,” she said.
The Antique Tractor Club made its first appearance at an Edmond farmers market.
“Any place people invite us to, we’ll come,” said Calvin Reasoner, Cashion resident. “Basically, we collect antique tractors and equipment.”
Reasoner said there are about 25 members in the group and they have 200-300 collected antiques, including pickups, tractors and thrashing machines. The club has one show each year in Cashion and makes appearances at parades, festivals and Lowes.
“We’re not used to this kind of a crowd,” he said. “It looks like everyone is enjoying it.”
Kathy Anderson, a past president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, started selling Route 66 merchandise in 1994. She said most of her items were designed for the business, Anderson Productions, and can’t be found anywhere else.
“I was very excited when I was contacted by the farmers market about a Route 66 festival,” she said. “I’m here to support Edmond and its recognition of Route 66.”
Anderson said after the “Cars” movie was released it has been neat to see the way children’s eyes light up when Route 66 is mentioned.
At noon, people were able to shop to the sounds of the classic rock band, Rock Island.
“This is the first time I’ve been to the farmers market,” said band member Tommy Keith. “It’s very well organized and very clean.”
The band formed nine years ago at a backyard party. They said they are looking forward to coming back to Edmond.