Iowa City Kids Market to return this fall

IOWA CITY — Kid craftmakers, cooks and creators will be back at the Iowa City Kids Market this fall.

Applications are now being taken for vendors — ages 8 to 18 — to sell items at the Iowa City Kids Market on Sept. 11.

During the Kids Market, young vendors can sell items they have grown, made, cooked or produced.

This year will mark the 10th annual Kids Market, which launched 11 years ago but was not hosted last year because of the pandemic.

“Kids will look forward to this and start making their products in advance, hoping the event will occur,” said Tammy Neumann, farmers market coordinator for Iowa City. “It’s just so nice to be able to say to these parents that we are going to hold this event again.”

Neumann said past events have featured kids selling baked goods, jewelry, paintings, lemonade and other items. So far this year, kid vendors have said they’ll be offering homemade bread, bubble wands, purses and aprons.

Neumann said the Kids Market started off as a day to offer fun activities for kids at the regular Farmers Market.

“We decided to allow kids to actually vend as we went on and so then it grew into where it’s strictly a kids market,” she said, noting other businesses come in and offer activities.

In addition to offering kids an opportunity to sell their goods, the Kids Market teaches the young vendors about customer service, handling money and other lessons, Neumann said.

The Kids Market will take place alongside the regular Saturday Farmers Market with kids setting up their booths outside of Chauncey Swan Park along East Washington Street.

The vendors will be responsible for bringing everything they need to set up their booth, including a table and chairs, if necessary.

Neumann said the Kids Market had about 25 vendors in 2019, and she expects to have room for 30 this year. There is no deadline to register, and registration will end once the 30 spots are filled, Neumann said.

There is no fee for kids to participate in the Kids Market. To find the application, go to icgov.org/FarmersMarket.

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