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Night market is a new concept for Sooke

Thursday night market set to open on June 5 at Sooke Region Museum
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Sooke Region Museum Executive Director Lee Boyko shows where the Thursday Night Market will be held.

If you make it, bake it, grow it or catch it, the Sooke Region Museum wants you!

It was through discussions with the Downtown Beautification Committee and the Chamber of Commerce that an idea took hold and is now becoming a reality. A night market for Sooke. A market where vendors of all types of goods can sell their wares for a few hours each Thursday night, 5 to 8:30 p.m. from June to September.

Space was the prime consideration and Lee Boyko, Executive Director of the Sooke Region Museum said, “Why not consider the museum?”

Was it synergy, serendipity or just like minds? It doesn’t matter, what does matter is that it is happening and it begins on June 5.

The idea is to have 30 vendors scattered along the museum pathways selling whatever they sell.

“Realistically 25 is a more manageable number,” said Boyko. “We put the call out and we don’t have 25 yet but it’s coming. We still have space for vendors.”

He said interested vendors can get all the information they need from the Sooke Region Museum’s website: sookeregionmuseum.com.

So far they have folks selling food, crafts, some produce, soaps, salts and various other items.

Some of the most interesting vendors, according to Boyko, is one selling Indian food. The museum itself will be selling something seafood-based.

“We’re excited about that,” said Boyko.

Boyko said they don’t want any duplication and he encourages local entrepreneurs to make use of that.

The museum has a commercial kitchen and they can work with vendors using it. They hope for at least one food truck.

Vendors will be selected from the region between Sooke and the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.

The idea is to be relatively selective in choosing vendors. They want to be open but not too open. For example, they do not want a “flea market” atmosphere but if someone has interesting “collections” they might be considered. A committee is in place in case anyone has any questions.

Vendors can choose to commit for the entire season or on a weekly basis.

“This is an experiment for everybody,” said Boyko. “We hope to build it up.”