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Soldotna Wednesday Markets start this week

City of Soldotna

Though most social events on the Kenai Peninsula have been upended this summer, one staple is still going forward: the Wednesday Markets in Soldotna Creek Park.

The markets feature local crafts, foods, and other goods spread out in stalls all around the park. The first one is scheduled to begin this Wednesday at 11 a.m. Annette Villa, who organizes the markets, said the stalls will be a little more spread out than in the past.

"We’re going to space the booths out some more," she said. "There’s more spacing for everybody to social distance. We are going to have tons of hand sanitizer. I will have a couple handwashing sinks in place, one on either end of the park. Plus we have the bathrooms so people can go wash their hands if needed."

Villa said she has a few vendors who have chosen to stay away this year due to concerns about COVID-19.  Everyone will be asked to wear masks, but she said the markets will also be a “no-judgment zone.”

"We’re going to ask everybody just to love each other," she said. "If you wear a mask, fine, if not, that’s fine—just love each other."

Villa said the markets are organized through the summer the way they have been in past years.

The Wednesday markets are free events and usually precede Music in the Park, outdoor concerts organized by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce. This year, the chamber has decided to cancel those concerts for June in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines regarding large events. Last year, the concerts drew more than 1,000 people on average each week. The CDC recommends cancelling events with more than 250 attendees right now. The chamber plans to keep the public informed as the situation evolves.

Reach Elizabeth Earl at eearl@kdll.org.

Elizabeth Earl is the news reporter/evening host for summer 2021 at KDLL. She is a high school teacher, with a background writing for the Peninsula Clarion and has been a freelance contributor to several publications in Alaska.
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