ORION TOWNSHIP – On Saturday, May 4, 2024, 31 vendors gathered and set-up tables in the Orion Center to offer a chance to get that perfect gift for Mom this upcoming Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12.
The fourth annual Mother’s Day Marketplace was brought to residents by the Orion Township Parks & Recreation Department, the event ran from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The only requirement to be a vendor during this event, was that the products being sold have to have been locally made: no mass produced, manufactured, or overseas products.
Admission and parking was free to the public, however, the Orion Center charged vendors fees in order to keep funding events year-round.
Jennifer Vezina is a recreation programmer at Orion Township Parks & Rec., she spoke to ONTV’s Joe Johnson about the event.
“You name it we have it: quilts, crochet, pottery, jewelry – a little bit of everything here.” Vezina said.
When the event started in 2021, the Orion Center just started opening its doors again to people due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so the event they did was limited – this year is different.
The first year we did this show, we were only able to do it upstairs, but we got creative and it is throughout the entire building this year,” Vezina said.
Vezina and Johnson also remarked on the crowd – while there was not an exact number of people tallied at the event – the residents seemed to have a good time.
“So far so good! Looks like everyone is enjoying themselves; finding a little something for everyone,” Vezina said.
The next event for the Orion Center and the Parks & Rec department is the annual Dragon Dash 5k, open to runners and walkers of all-ages and skill levels. The event starts at 9 a.m., Sunday, May 19.
For more information on events like these, visit orionparks.com/calendar.
Photo by Joe Johnson
Photo by Joe Johnson