It's a welcome start to summer as the Petrolia Farmers' Market gets ready to open.
Dave Menzies, director of facilities and community services for the Town of Petrolia said the farmers' market will open on June 5 for the 11th season.
"Last year was a little odd, to say the least, and we're going to have to start this year with the market in the same fashion," he said. "As the provincial government relaxes some of the rules, we'll be able to adjust and get the market back to as normal conditions as possible."
The market will operate on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. until October.
Farmers' markets are deemed an essential service so there will be no limit as to how many patrons are allowed to attend the open-air market at a time. However, Menzies said patrons will be asked to follow safety protocols such as maintaining social distancing and following traffic arrows or signs.
Menzies said there will be six vendors at the market to start.
"We'll expand from there each week," he said. "We'll follow the provincial guidelines and increase the [number of] vendors."
Kerr Café will be closed due to provincial restrictions but will reopen once they're permitted to do so. Outdoor dining will be allowed again as part of phase one of the province's reopening plan, which is expected to start the week of June 14 when 60 per cent of adults receive at least one vaccine dose.
A date for the market's grand opening celebration has not been set yet but Menzies said there are plans for the event to eventually take place.
"Each year, our grand opening consists of a free barbeque for the residents so we're going to continue to plan for that. We have some musical entertainment lined up in a safe environment for the people to listen to as they're shopping," he said. "We have a couple of surprises for later in the summer as well."
Vendors will be set up facing Station Street and Fletcher Street.
