Summer Markets at Hollyhock

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The summer market season begins on Wednesday June 26th, from 12:30-3:00 PM.

“We're having our first artisans market at Hollyhock,  just outside the garden and the lodge in the grassy area above the hot tubs. This is our first in a series of  five or six markets that are happening  every second Wednesday afternoon over the summer.  We have a variety of artists, fiber artists, ceramicists, lotions, potion makers, clothing makers, painters and live music,” explained Tamlyn Collingwoood, Business Mentorship Coordinator for the Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA).

“Come and check it out, everyone's welcome.”

“This whole plan came out of a meeting that I had with Hollyhock, in the early winter, where they shared  their  wonderful ‘Things To Do’ program. This is where they look for activities in the community for their guests to engage in, on their afternoons off.  My thought was to create some activities that also involve engaging with the community, engaging with local businesses and artists - making it  a win-win-win situation.”

Cortes Currents: Where are you getting your artists and artisans? And can anyone get involved if they want to? 

Tamlyn Collingwoood: “There’s limited space, so it’s pretty much full now, but hopefully we'll be able to spread out once the grass is fully grown. It was just recently seeded. The market is curated to support local artisans and local small businesses.”

Cortes Currents: Are they all from the Friday Market?  

Tamlyn Collingwoood: “No, there are a couple of vendors who come from the Friday market, but also some that don't. We do have one vendor from off island, Hillary from “Elsewhere Clothing,’ a very popular handmade clothing line  from Vancouver Island. She comes once in a while to the Friday Market.”

Some of the other artisans were listed in a press release:Moon Cat Magicals, Wild Spirit Glass, Twigroot Botanicals, Soft Rock Ceramics, Tenant Farms Handicrafts, Stephanie Whitman, Art Spirit Drum and Brigid Weiler Art.

Tamlyn Collingwoood: “Once I started getting the word out there, about this market, a couple of the old timers told me that  there used to be an artisans market down by the beach at Hollyhock and that it was really fun. Some of those folks were just really excited to see that this was happening again, and I was really happy to hear  that this was something that people enjoyed and that we were bringing it back to life.”

“I will be advertising the market in my usual bombarding way  on all of the social media pages, the Tideline and sending it out to my email list.” 

“It's not just for Hollyhock guests. It's also to attract Cortes residents, or folks that might be here in the summer, to have a wander through the Hollyhock Garden, maybe visit the store or have a little bit of lunch before the market.  Come and enjoy the setting and check out  some really nice locally made art.”

Cortes Currents: Do you have to pre book for the restaurant? 

Tamlyn Collingwoood: “Yes,  there is a reservation system  for booking lunches at Hollyhock.  Anyone wanting to do that should phone Hollyhock and book ahead.  Lunch goes from 12:30 to 1:30. We'll be setting up the market right at the beginning of lunch, so people can get a little refreshment from the restaurant as well and come out and enjoy the market.” 

Cortes Currents: What about the music? 

Tamlyn Collingwoood: “Michael Keith is playing music for this market, which is fabulous. It's always a great time to have Michael playing music and just creating a nice vibe. Hopefully he'll be able to play for us again at one of our other markets.  All the vendors fees goes towards paying the musician, so if we have enough vendors, then we can hopefully afford to bring over a band that I really enjoyed  listening to at the Quadra Market.”