Downtown New Port Richey came alive Friday night.
The first Fresh Friday Night Farmers’ Market and Art event brought crowds of patrons to stalls set up in Railroad Square on Nebraska Ave,. Vendors tempted patrons with produce, plants, baked goods, art and more. There was also a staging area planned in Cavalaire Square.
It tied into the nearby Progress Energy Art Gallery’s First Friday art opening. The featured exhibit this month was The Man Cave, which focuses on art representing manhood.
Find out what's happening in New Port Richeyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Greater New Port Richey Main Street, the nonprofit that focuses on downtown revitalization in New Port Richey, produced the market. The plan is to hold it on the first Friday of the month through the end of the year. Then, in January, the plan is to will hold it every week on Friday through the end of April.
The next market is Nov. 2.
Find out what's happening in New Port Richeyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Planners have touted the market as bringing people downtown and giving them something do on a Friday night.
Nancy Ciesla, director of the Progress Energy Art Gallery, sees potential in the market and tying it into the gallery opening. She said she thinks the event will grow.
“Every Friday should be like this downtown,” Ciesla said.
Rob Marlowe, deputy mayor of New Port Richey, owns a business downtown .
He commented omn the market on Patch:
This was a VERY nice event and, if you missed it, you need to put it on your calendar for next month.
I love having a store downtown. After we closed, we walked over to Mezzaluna and had a very nice dinner. We walked over to check out the farmers market and then on to the PEAG to see the hot chicks and all the other man cave appropriate art work on display. We went back over to the farmers market and purchased a couple of pie slices to take home for dessert. It was a good thing we got back when we did as the pies were going fast. There were lots of other good looking things for sale at the farmers market, such as banana nut bread, pumpkin bread, "cookies in a jar" kits (add eggs and oil and toss them in the oven), and all sorts of produce and crafts.
Main Street volunteers lowered the Railroad crossing arms to block the street, making this an amazing event that didn't cost the taxpayers anything.
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