Markets to add vibrancy

Tonight is the first in a series of Proudlove Parade Night Markets, which will breathe a new life into Thursday-night shopping on a central Albany street.

Locals might remember markets along the parade many years ago, and now businesses have rallied together with Green Skills and the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry to bring them back.

Together, they formed the Proudlove Parade Town Team to create Thursday-night markets to take place throughout January.

Green Skills Albany manager and event organiser Anne Sparrow said the group hoped to increase the vibrancy of the area while creating sustainable communities.

“We heard at the recent City of Albany City Chat that people wanted more events in the community, so we did it,” she said

“We want to bring families out and connect them with each other, to entice them out of their lounge rooms.

“We are hoping that as we provide opportunity for stallholders to trade, we can support the businesses that participate, increase local spending and build a stronger local economy and community. Thursday-night shopping used to be such an institution when it started in the 1970s and 1980s.

“The Proudlove Parade Town Team want to bring back that hustle and bustle of night-time shopping without impacting on the weekend markets.”

Local band Black Ambience will provide live music, there will be barbecue-cooking demonstrations, street food, market stalls, face painting and craft activities.

Ms Sparrow said the Great Southern had a high percentage of creative and home-based businesses, which would get a chance to shine during the summer school-holiday period.

“This is an ideal example (of sustainable communities), and it offers opportunities for small, micro and home-based businesses as well as retail businesses that want to offer sale products,” she said.

To register a stall, contact Ms Sparrow at the Green Skills office.

The markets start at 4pm.