Second annual "Pop-Up on Penn" a success

(6/21) Walkersville’s second annual "Pop-Up on Penn" event was "just fabulous," according to the Economic Development Commission Chair Linda Morgan. So much so that the EDC has started planning a similar event for the fall. The event, which started just last year, was designed to bring business and exposure to the multiple local businesses around the Walkersville area by bringing multiple vendors to one location, similar to a street fair.

The May event saw 25 vendors (28 originally signed up but three were unable to attend) with goods ranging from bakery items, spices, honey, handmade soap, hand-sewn accessories, pottery and food trucks. Local non-profits, the Frederick County Public Library and Walkersville Historical Society, manned booths working energetically to educate the community and encourage participation in local programs.

Pop-Up on Penn was held at the Walkersville Southern Railroad parking lot allowing the Railroad’s opening day to be a part of the event’s festivities. With thousands of visitors flocking to Walkersville every year to ride the Railroad, their participation in the event was integral to its success.

The Railroad’s involvement also allowed for the official ribbon cutting ceremony for Whistle Stop Coffee, a local coffee trailer that uses the Railroad parking lot as its primary location and is a big perk for anyone visiting the Railroad.

With the event being hailed as a success, the EDC members started discussing details about having a fall event and agreed on October 18th as a happy medium. "We think doing it during the pumpkin patch train would be perfect," said Whistle Stop Coffee owner Felicia Martin. October 18th would coincide with the Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch train allowing the Railroad and the EDC to really get into the fall harvest theme.

Although the May event was from 10 to 4, members discussed shortening the hours as they received a lot of feedback, from vendors in particular saying, "4 pm was a bit too long." With the Railroad being a big draw for visitors, their last run on opening day was at two o'clock. It was found that the foot traffic slowed considerably once the train left the station.

The October 18th train schedule includes a third train at four o’clock making the discussion on time difficult. Martin suggested starting earlier (at 9) to catch the early birds and ending earlier (at 2). Although this would mean the four o’clock train riders would miss the event, Burgess Chad Weddle pointed out, "It’s one of those things where if someone on the four o’clock train wants to come out to do it [the event] they need to come out early," he said.

The Commission agreed on the date of October 18th and agreed on the hours of 10 to 3, allowing vendors plenty of time to set up before the first train leaves and giving visitors time catch a train ride and shop comfortably.