Choctaw announces ‘Friday Nights in the Park’
City now accepting applications for summer market
Choctaw Times
Friday nights in the park will continue to be a fun community event this coming summer in Choctaw.
Choctaw Creek Park will remain the host site of a weekly community market event each Friday, May through September.
The weekly gathering will continue to feature local vendors, food trucks and fun for the entire community in the city’s premiere park, May 5 to Sept. 1.
The City of Choctaw begins accepting vendor applications this week.
Winter weather covers Choctaw Creek Park this week, but officials look forward to warmer weather by planning Friday Nights in the Park. (PHOTO BY RYAN HORTON)
Applications will be submitted to the Choctaw City Hall, and all types of vendors are welcome.
The cost for a space is $15 for non-electric and $20 for a space with electric.
Questions about special event vendor applications, guidelines and fees can be directed to City Hall at 405-390-8198.
With a new city manager and park and recreation director, staff has taken the market back under city supervision. And officials say the upcoming vendor market/show will allow for a wider variety of local vendors than the previous farmer’s market.
With previous city staff, Choctaw’s farmer’s market was restructured in 2019 to be overseen by a farmer’s market manager. The event was moved to Friday nights and has grown each year.
After three different market managers taking the helm over the last half decade, the event hit new heights of success last season which helped the volunteer market manager land a paid job in that field.
Following the resignation of the market manager, the city will be working to ensure that momentum built in 2022 isn’t lost this coming season.
With new leadership at City Hall, Choctaw opted to not appoint a volunteer farmer’s market manager this season, but instead bring the market back under city management.
Despite rumors and concerns, the event will continue each and every Friday throughout the season.
Officials say most of the previous vendors will still participate, while some have chosen to setup elsewhere.
Officials say they had a waiting list for vendors last year so there shouldn’t be an issue filling those vacancies.
Vendor applications are now being be accepted.
Follow us @ChoctawTimes on Facebook and Twitter
City leaders are making a big mistake. Ever heard the saying “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”. Your placing rediculously high fees on vendors and they will not return. Your statement about most vendors are returning can definitely fall into the “False news category” . RIP Choctaw Friday Nights in the park. Unfortunately, this event will die a slow death as uneducated Choctaw City Leaders continue to infuse bad decisions into the matter.