Brookfield officials have had their plans for the village’s inaugural French market thwarted three weeks in a row by forecasts of rain.
The market was set to open for the first time on Wednesday, June 10, when officials had to postpone due to the oncoming rain and tornado warnings. The same thing happened the following two Wednesdays, June 17 and 24.
“June has not been out friend on Wednesdays with the rain. We’ve been disappointed,” Libby Popovic, Brookfield’s community development director, told the Landmark.
As a result, the market’s first day is now scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, Popovic said. To make up for the three missed weeks, village officials have added three more dates to the end of the season. Once it starts on July 8, the market will run every Wednesday until Aug. 12, she said.
The market will feature artisans whose goods “complement” the Brookfield Shops retail incubator program, which will also be open for business during the French markets from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Popovic said.
“We had four food vendors and four artisans with candles and some artwork. There was some handmade jewelry,” she said. “[French markets] really focus on handmade, crafted, locally produced goods. Some of those goods are still offered at the farmers market, but a farmers market focuses more on fresh, locally grown food, agricultural products.”
Brookfield runs its farmers market on Saturday mornings through the summer season for 21 weeks.
Despite the cancellations, Popovic said vendors have been understanding and are looking forward to finally being able to peddle their wares in Brookfield.
“They’re also vendors in other markets, so they’re used to the drill. Some of them get canceled because of weather,” she said.
In the wake of the event’s inability to launch in June, Popovic said interest has actually grown over time.
“From residents and vendors, there’s been more interest in it. They’ve been disappointed,” she said. “We can’t control the weather, and the vendors that were there, they understand that. We’re regrouping for July, and we’ve gotten a lot of interest from additional vendors in the community asking and looking forward to it. I think there was a little bit of a hiccup with the momentum and the rain, but I think we can pick that up right after the Fourth of July.”
Popovic said residents can expect a full activation of the area near Eight Corners during the French markets and on weekends when the Brookfield Shops are regularly open.
“We have performers that are coming. We have someone coming almost every single weekend,” she said. “Some of the shop vendors have their liquor license, so they’re going to be offering different drinks. It’s not just the artisan market; it’s the shops, the market, the performances. It’s a whole vibe we’re going for.”
