THUNDER BAY -- Linda Kvarda was looking for a unique gift and likes shopping local.
So she ventured to the Thunder Bay Country Market Wednesday morning and found what she needed.
“I have a friend who has a daughter and she likes things that are quite different and so I was looking for something for her and I found it upstairs,” she said.
“Now I’m finished. I can go home,” Kvarda said.
Kvarda was one of many people taking advantage of the market’s Christmas Eve hours.
Lisa Galon and her one-year-old son Charlie came looking for perogies, but unfortunately the usual perogie vendor had a family commitment that day and wasn’t at the market.
“No perogies for me, but I also came for the cheese so I got some cheese from the cheese farm and I got some chocolate,” Galon said.
Galon was happy to hear of the market’s Christmas Eve hours this year because she loves to shop local.
“I love coming to the market and when I have family come from out of town, I always bring them to the market on Saturday mornings,” she said.
The market of local food and artisan vendors usually runs Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the winter, but added some extra hours over the holidays season this year.
Darlene McDowell is a market staple each week selling her Karmalicious Take and Bake Cookie Dough and said the Christmas Eve market was a great opportunity for vendors as well as customers.
“Not everybody is here today but the ones who are I think are doing quite well,” she said.
“There’s people that have come in waves – last minute shoppers trying to get their last minute stuff done. It’s been a good turnout for Christmas Eve morning.”
Rustic Rebel Ranch’s Kevin Kusznier agreed there was a lot of foot traffic Wednesday morning.
“A lot of people want stuff for Christmas,” he said. “It’s a good idea because the demand for local food is extremely high.”
While he was pleased to be selling his products during the morning, Kusznier was planning to spend his evening at home with his family.
The Thunder Bay Country Market will be closed on Dec. 27, but will be back up and running Jan. 3, 2015.
