Love Will Be in the Air at the Mar Vista Farmers Market

This Sunday the Mar Vista Farmers Market will host its second annual Valentine Party and Concert from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and manager Diana Rodgers says the event is geared toward children of all ages.

“The market really serves as a sort of transient town square, and the whole neighborhood is out here every Sunday and a very big part of our neighborhood is families and children,” she said.

Rodgers added that she’s been struck by how many professional, talented and creative mothers and fathers there are in Mar Vista and it just seemed natural to hold a party at the farmers market to highlight their skills. Rodgers said she met most of them as they came to shop at the market and gradually learned of their talents.

“[The first Valentine Party and Concert last year] came together quite organically,” Rodgers said. “There were so many people who wanted to showcase what they love doing in the neighborhood and what better way to express [Valentine’s Day] and love than to direct it towards the kids?”

That’s why the lineup on the concert stage is very much kid-oriented. The Walgrove Elementary School Band, The Ghouls (featured last week on Mar Vista Patch), will take the stage first at 9:30 a.m.

Others in the lineup include Family Dance Jam, run by choreographer llaan Egeland Mazzini, who will draw a huge chalk circle on the ground for the kids and their parents to dance together in.

Also featured are Birdie Mendoza of Birdie’s Playhouse, who has a reputation for getting children up to the age of 6 to “shake their tail feathers”; Didi Pop, created by Deborah Poppnik, whose two children also have a hand in writing and recording her kid-friendly songs; and the ever-popular Hoop Spinners, who recently started bringing their colorful hula hoops to the market.

The festivities will end with the highly popular Heidi Swedberg and Sukey Jump Band, which also includes two children in its lineup.

“There are so many professional musicians doing kids music that either live or work in Mar Vista, that it’s wonderful to see this real community effort come together,” said Rodgers.

Of course there will be the usual vendors, great food and fresh produce at the market this Sunday, but Rodgers said she hopes the concert will bring in people who’ve yet to discover the market. “We’re always trying to draw new people to the market,” she said, “and the beauty of the [Valentine’s Party] is it’s going to be going on all day. You can enjoy as much of it as you want to.”

The market now holds six major concert events each year, and Rodgers says they are a great way to bring the community together. “Mar Vista is an amazing community filled with proactive, talented and creative people, and this is a wonderful way for people to meet everyone and have a good time.”

If you plan on being at the market this Sunday, bring your camera along. Take pictures and send them to us at Kelly.hartog@marvista.patch.com and we’ll include them on the site. The market will run from 9 am to 2pm with the concerts beginning at 9:30 am.