RR Branstrom Daily Press A Gladstone Farmers Market vendor offers a strawberry to a child. The market is planning several special events throughout the summer.

GLADSTONE — A fishing pole made to catch Smokey Bear bracelets. Crafts with sun-shaped paper plates. A scavenger hunt challenging children to ask adults what their favorite item was.

All were part of the Gladstone Farmers Market’s “Family Day,” one of several special events taking place at the market this year.

When Downtown Ambassador Samantha Gaudino was brought on to run the farmers market in Gladstone, she was informed that the city was looking to grow the market and expand the demographic. Gaudino rose to the challenge and has actively been working to make the farmers market successful and assessing along the way.

Previously, the demographic had been older. To reach a wider range of age groups, more variety in vendors was one step. Creating a more dynamic atmosphere of the market was another.

“I said, ‘How am I going to target this young demographic? What would bring me to the market?…We need to have some special events,'” Gaudino said.

Family Day had the most vendors so far, with 25 booths in the market that day (June 30). That’s more than twice the average attendance of 2024.

The special theme “is also a way for us to incorporate those organizations who, you know, wouldn’t fit the typical vendor category,” Gaudino explained.

Great Start Collaborative and Family Coalition was one of those. Since their mission is to promote early education, Great Start was giving out free children’s books and had two craft opportunities for youngsters.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had a booth, too. Jalen Sims, who works at the Pocket Park on the fairgrounds, had furs lined up on a table and was telling kids about different types of wildlife. There was also a bucket full of treats that each had a metal binder clip attached; children had to use a fishing pole with a magnet on the end if they wanted anything from the bucket.

“You might have to try again. We don’t always catch something. That’s why it’s called ‘fishing,’ not ‘catching,'” Sims told a small child who was having difficulty snagging a prize.

Her persistence eventually paid off, and she ended up pulling up both a bracelet and a lollipop with the magnet.

Having attended the market last year, Sims said without hesitation that there were far more shoppers on Monday than there had been the last time he had a booth.

“We have a lot of people even saying that they are traveling here for specific vendors — like Yellow Dog Sourdough is very popular,” said Gaudino, who makes the rounds multiple times an hour and chats with vendors to find out how everyone is doing. “The key thing is, we have some vendors who are very popular on social media, and it’s helpful to the market because they’re the ones that people are filing in for. And then everyone’s finding all this amazing stuff.”

Menominee River Roasters is another one that draws people in. Matthew Voigt, husband of owner/roaster Ariel Voigt, attends markets regularly, and says that he really enjoys Gladstone’s for the layout and the live music.

The Make-Believe Spurs played at this week’s market. Various musicians will be at the Gladstone Farmers Market through the whole season, which ends Sept. 29.

It’s not always the same vendors each week, and Gaudino believes that variety brings people back time after time.

Though this week’s Family Day was the first of its kind, it was a success and will surely appear again, Gaudino said.

Other special events at the Gladstone Farmers Market are yet to come. Next week, July 7, will be “Christmas in July” — there may be bakers with Christmas cookies, crafters selling ornaments, and Lavender Co. will raffle off a gift basket.

Later, there’ll be a berry-themed day on July 28, a mom’s day on Aug. 26 and an autumn market on Sept. 22.

Said Gaudino: “It’s all new, and it’s kind of a test run, but I will say it’s been successful so far.”

The market is held at 907 Delta Ave. in Gladstone from 3 to 6 p.m. every Monday through September, weather permitting.