Popular community event moves inside

LINDSAY — The popular Friday Night Market and Street Faire used to go dormant for the winter. But it may have found a way to weather the cold.

The Lindsay Friday Night Market has a tentative new home inside the McDermont Field House, 365 N. Sweetbriar Ave., which will allow for year-round shopping.  

From 5 to 10 p.m. every Friday, until March, and for a $1 admission fee, shoppers can peruse the offerings of the regular Lindsay Friday Night Market and Street Faire without fear of cold or rain.

Usually, the indoor market features more than 50 vendors and offers nearly everything the outdoor market had, including toys, clothes, shoes and food.

However, only about 40-45 vendors, according to Virginia Loya, the executive director of the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce, were at the market Friday.

“The spaces aren’t all filled today. There was a lot of sick people,” said Loya.

Near the center of the basketball court was vendor Tray Mathewis. Mathewis, who lives in Fresno, was selling several styles of ladies shoes.

“It’s nice,” said Mathewis. “I got more customers outside, but outside was during the summer time. Now, I can work.”

Edgar Xavier a resident of Farmersville and his mother, Sarah Quijas, were selling candy and dried fruit.

“I would say it’s a good idea, but nobody is really showing up,” said Xavier.

Although the crowd trickled in, Loya pointed out that it was still early in the night.

“People usually come about 7 or 7:30 p.m,” said Loya.

Lindsay residents Stella Macias and her sister Elena Macias stopped to checkout the indoor market.

“I thought it’s kind of neat,” said Stella.

Elena agreed.

“It’s nice to have it indoors,” said Elena.

The doors to the inside market opened for the first time on Friday, Dec. 21, with the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce arranging for it to run alongside a Posada — a Christmas-time festivity.

“The first one was super successful because we had the Posada, the second a little less, but we’re cautiously optimistic that it’s going to do well,” said Clint Ashcraft, executive director of the McDermont Field House.

The outdoor market runs each Friday evening from March to November in downtown Lindsay. Since its debut in 2004, the market has grown to 200 vendors and draws thousands of people from across the Valley. Moving the market indoor appears to have been a no-brainer. The Lindsay Chamber of Commerce runs the outdoor market.

“The outside market is really well attended. We thought why are we not doing this all the time,” said Ashcraft.

Making his way among the vendor stalls was Lindsay resident Roger “Rocky” Cortez Sr.

“I think it’s a great thing. I wish they would have started sooner,” said Cortez who came with is grandson.

Contact Emily Shapiro at 784-5000, ext. 1050, or on Twitter @ EmilyShapirogar.