By Heather Lusk
The tents that previously blanketed Main Street for the weekend of Brick Street Market will no longer be part of the annual artisan fair. Instead, the chamber of commerce board is requiring vendors to bring their own tents.
“It allows our Main Street merchants freedom to have traffic on Friday,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tracy Phillips, noting tents were always in place the night before the market began.
“We do not want to burden our Main Street merchants,” Phillips said.
The market runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20.
“The reason we have these events is to bring people onto Brick Street and to bring people into restaurants and shops,” she said.
Phillips noted that vendors who attend Brick Street Market are frequent art fair participants and generally already have their own tents. More than 100 artisans, selling everything from upscaled items to photography and ceramics, will be part of the 32nd annual event.
“The hallmark of this event is handcrafted items,” Phillips said. “The jury that selected these artists was very selective this year, and we have very high quality.”
A children’s area at the corner of Main and Pine streets will have bounce houses, entertainment and an appearance by Silly Safaris, weather-permitting.
Food is an integral part of the market. Food truck vendors include Nacho Mama and Caplinger’s Fresh Catch, which is planning to open in late May in Whitestown. Both Zionsville-based A Taste of Amish and Tina’s Traditional Old English Kitchen, based in Carmel, will join the market this year along with many other vendors.
“It gives people the opportunity to have a quick bite as they’re walking,” Phillips said.
Free shuttle service from Zionsville Community High School will help alleviate parking issues near the market. The shuttle, operated by Hoosier Village, will run continuously throughout the fair. Visitors can park at the east side of the high school near the Educational Services Center.
