On the evening of May 3, as the sun set, vendors from across the Verde Valley set up booths in the Old Town Activity Park behind Cottonwood City Hall. They were joined by the Doug Johnson Band — three middle-aged men playing classic rock songs on an elevated stage. Many Cottonwood residents were also in attendance, and children of all ages scampered around the grassy field.
The 2018 Old Town Music and Market kicked off its season on May 3, and it will continue every Thursday at 5 p.m. throughout May, June and September. A unique event, the market allows local farmers and artisans to be able to sell their goods in the evenings, accompanied by different musical acts every week.
In previous years, the market was held in July, August and September, but was changed this year to spring and fall. According to Music and Market organizer Jak Teel, the change was due to a combination of the summer heat and the rain.
“We kept getting hammered by all the monsoons, and we’d be raining out half of our markets,” Teel said. “Then the other half it would just be too hot for people to go out there, so we tried to switch it up.”
The new timing led to a smaller market in its first event this year. There were about a dozen vendors set up on the first Thursday, far fewer than the market in its summer heydays, and competing against the Verde Valley Fair on the same day did not do the market any favors.
However, despite the limited attendance, many of the people present expressed a love for the market.
“Everybody seems to have a good time,” Bill Ayers said. “The bands are good. It’s just a nice thing to do on a Thursday afternoon.”
Cottonwood resident Emily Gonzalez expressed a similar sentiment, as the market can make for a fun family outing.
“I come here with my daughter. She likes to play with all the other kids,” Gonzalez said. “The music is really fun. It’s cute to watch the children running around.”
For some vendors, like Clay Bennett, who was selling cracked pecans from Camp Verde, the small crowd was appreciated.
“I don’t like to be in competition,” Bennett said. “This is the only place I can come to and not be in competition for the people I crack for.”
Other vendors lauded the market’s easygoing feel, which is what keeps them coming back.
“I like the music if it’s not too loud, and I get to bring my goat,” said Nancy Scheffert, who was running a stand along with a baby goat named Heart.
Scheffert was selling goat milk soap and lotions, and plans to sell goat milk popsicles in the coming weeks.
“People get a kick out of it because you really don’t expect to see a goat,” she said.
Looking to the weeks and months ahead, Teel said he hopes the market will see higher attendance, especially as word gets out about the event.
As more people attend in the future, Teel said he felt that many of the market’s vendors could see real success. He also pointed out a new addition to the market, which has not been present in previous years — a tie-dye station where people can make their own custom-colored shirts.
“They’re going to go huge next week,” Teel said.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551 or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
