Harwich Cultural Center Establishes Vendor Market

HARWICH – The decision earlier this spring by the Harwich Historical Society not to hold a farmers market at Brooks Academy based on limited responses from vendors opened the door for a wider market opportunity at 204 Sisson, the cultural center.

“We saw the scuttlebutt on social media over no farmers market,” said Director of Cultural Affairs Kara Mewhinney. “So we decided to give the community a resource it has been accustomed to.”

On July 11, a much broader market will be set up on the front lawn of the cultural center. It will include farmers, artists, bakers, and clothing vendors. Mewhinney said there is space for 40 vendors, and a large number of vendors have already signed up, with room for more. The number of vendors will likely fluctuate each week.

“We’re primarily looking at focusing on bringing in produce and specialty items like tea and honey,” she said.

About a dozen vendors will be selling food-related products. The Corrigan Hill Farm will be there along with Midnight Our Seafood selling oysters and clams. There are several bakers, including the Bagel Hound, which recently purchased the A&W building along Route 28, and Brenda’s Cupcakes For All Occasions. A coffee and catering vendor has signed up and a few vendors will have pet products. A half dozen more will be selling wearables.

Food vendors will be required to have an annual or one-day license from the board of health, Mewhinney said.

The arts and crafts community will be well represented with 16 vendors signed up, including the Guild of Harwich Artists. The studios in the cultural center will also be open so people can wander through and talk with additional artists, Mewhinney said.

The Harwich Historical Society and Cape Cod Media will also have booths at the market to disseminate information about their organizations, she said. The plan is to also have acoustic entertainment on the lawn each week. The vendor fee for the market is $10 a week, or $50 for the entire summer.

There will be plenty of parking available; people should not park on the front lawn, Mewhinney said. When marked parking is full the back lawn accessed from the parking lot on the right side of the building will be open for additional parking.

The market ends at 6 p.m. and Cranfest in the Courtyard begins at 6:30. Mewhinney encouraged people to attend both.

The market will take place every Thursday, rain or shine. If there’s a washout, the market will be moved into the gymnasium.