(4/23) Last fall, Town Operations Specialist Brandy Malocha presented plans for revamping the Town’s farmers market, the "Emmitsburg Fun, Farm and Family Day", to the Town Council. Since then, Malocha has been hard at work making important changes to the market in preparation for a fast-approaching summer season.

In previous years, the Market suffered from issues such as a lack of vendors, low attendance and competition with larger towns. The market used to be held on Fridays; however, it competed heavily with the Fort Ritchie Market. Organizers considered changing to a Saturday market but that would then compete with Thurmont and Gettysburg. Malocha also suggested having the Market later in the day to allow visitors to shop at one market in the morning (such as Thurmont or Gettysburg) and then come to Emmitsburg later in the day. With this suggestion in mind, the Market will be open from 1 to 4, with food trucks opening at noon on May 17, July 19, August 23 and September 20.

The name change from the more traditional "Farmers Market" to "Emmitsburg Fun, Farm and Family Day" was done to encompass all of the activities Malocha hopes to implement on market days. With games, activities, vendors and traditional market items, market day is more than a farmers’ market, it’s an event to bring the community together for merry-making and community support.

Some of the ideas for attractions at the Market include craft vendors, food trucks, kids’ activities, and traditional farm-fresh produce. Discussions on having a beer garden, music and even old-fashioned games like egg toss, sack races and cornhole have also occurred. Kids can also look forward to free giveaways just for them!

One of Malocha’s suggestions last fall was to implement a "main attraction" every month to hopefully bring in visitors and make the Market extra exciting. These include a dunk tank (with plans to dunk the Mayor), a moon bounce, a Touch-A-Truck event and K9 demonstrations with the police department.

The Market will also be moving to Emmitsburg’s Community Park to accommodate all the new activities. Saturday youth events shouldn’t interfere with the Market’s success either, in fact, the park being full of youth events should hopefully draw people from the other activities to the Market.

For May’s market there are plans for a bounce house, face painting, a DJ, a beer tent, sack races, prizes, giveaways and "Wags For Hope" Therapy Dogs. July’s market will feature a dunk tank, face painting, DJ, beer tent, an egg toss game, kids crafts and more yet to be confirmed. The August market still has events to be planned, but so far will have square dancing, face painting and a beer tent. September is still in the planning stages.