As spring continues and out-of-towners sweep in for the Master’s, farmers, small vendors and locals are continuing to enjoy a weekend tradition by the Riverwalk from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Every Saturday, at 15 8th St., locals have been flocking to the Augusta Market to enjoy purchasing a variety of goods until mid November.
With delicious food being freshly cooked, baked and sold, many Augustans said they regularly attended the market because of the vendors’ hot, savory dishes and the sweetly decorated treats.
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To Aysha Cheretakis, a self-proclaimed food fanatic, the market is a great way to introduce one’s taste buds to diverse flavors without breaking the bank.
“My friend and I are huge foodies, so we just love to eat, and I also like to see what they have around,” she said.
In addition to food sampling, Cheretakis said she was pleasantly surprised to see more artistic vendors join the market over the years.
“It’s nice to see not just the food vendors, but actual crafted works. It’s wonderful to see more and more people with their art on display,” she said.
For those who have never attended the market, Cheretakis suggests newcomers bring plenty of spending cash and a hearty appetite.
“There’s just a lot of great stuff … I leave here and I have food for the whole week,” she said.
As live music fills the air and attendees enjoy the cool spring breeze, attendees and vendors alike said it was easy to see why so many loved the local haven for farmers and artisans.
Ceramics specialist and Augusta native Kayla Rayburn said she loved the market for many reasons, and has actively participated in the weekly event since she was 12 years old.
“I started selling my classmates’ prints here when I was younger as part of a fundraiser for Davidson,” she said. “I’ve sold a little bit of everything.”
After pursuing photography, painting and more through artistic high school classes at Davidson Fine Arts, Rayburn said college classes at Augusta University introduced to her real passion – creating unique ceramics.
“I just realized that ceramics is where it’s at,” she said. “I absolutely love it here … to be able to come out here for one day a week and earn some money is great.”
Whilst learning the basics to ceramics, Rayburn said she could not work a full-time job as it prevented her from always being available to care for her grandparents.
However, the market gave vendors a second home and a great, steadily busy platform that provided many an opportunity to share their work while earning money.
“My friends come here to see me, and I’ve also met so many people,” she said. “The other vendors – especially the ones next to me – we’re like a family here, because we’re always in the same spot. We look out for each other and take care of one another.”
Whether it was watching each other’s tents to make a quick bathroom run or helping each other out with change, Rayburn said many of the vendors “had each other’s backs.”
Growing up in the area, Rayburn also benefited the CSRA by acting as a perfect hub for old and new community faces to gather and socialize.
“The community is so vibrant here … it’s a staple of Augusta,” she said. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and if you’re new here it’s very welcoming because of our Southern hospitality.”
Along with enthusiastic vendors, the riverwalk market also features a dog-friendly environment, freshly grown fruits and vegetables, and many handcrafted beverages.
“This [market] gives me the opportunity to show off my local talents, and it lets me expand my business by getting my name out there,” said Andres Gardin, a regular jewelry vendor known for his beautiful crystal creations. “The customer base here really values people’s artwork.”
By creating customizable rings and necklaces, Gardin said the market showcases businesses that offer unique products that cannot be found anywhere else in the CSRA.
To newcomers, Gardin suggests his favorite food from the Black Lotus food truck, which features delicious asian dishes. His personal favorite is a bowl served with fresh salmon.
“They have really great food,” he said.
As live music filled the air and attendees enjoyed the cool spring breeze, several shoppers said it was easy to see why so many loved the local haven for farmers and artisans.
“It’s very diversified and small businesses are the backbone of the economy, so it’s always good to support them,” said attendee Joshua Cripps, owner of Southern Pro Landscaping and Construction. “There’s a lot of different people out here, so you never know what you’re going to see.”
Cripps said his favorite part of the market was its family-friendly environment, which he largely attributed to the event’s “great food” and kind vendors.
For more information about Augusta’s Farmers Market, or to become a vendor or sponsor, please visit: https://www.theaugustamarket.com/.
