By: Sahar Chmais
The Buda Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) is reintroducing Buda’s Market in the Park on Oct. 3, after it was put on hold during the summer months.
The event was originally paused in response to COVID-19. Residents should expect to see it popping up every first Saturday of the month, running from October to December.
October’s Market in the Park is not expected to be as grand as the previous years, said J.R. Gonzales, executive director of BACC. This month’s festivities will run on a smaller scale in order to gauge safety protocols and resident response. There will be 12 to 15 booths set up, Gonzales approximated, presenting food along as well as arts and crafts.
Although October’s festivity is expected to be smaller, this is not going to be the ongoing trend, explained Gonzales. In November, Market in the Park will be close to Veterans Day and December is filled with holidays and family activities; Gonzales expects these two months to welcome a bigger crowd.
In order to keep in line with coronavirus safety, each booth will have a sanitization station and will be distanced 15-feet apart. All attendees are required to wear masks. As an added safety measure, BACC will continue monitoring the county’s coronavirus case load.
BACC did not want to deprive small local businesses of the opportunity to advertise their goods, which is why they wanted to continue the event, Gonzales said.
“Vendors have to survive,” Gonzales told the Hays Free Press - News Dispatch. But he also added on the other benefits of the event. “It is adding traffic to downtown Buda and giving residents an option for something to do on Saturday morning. We are looking for that win-win-win.”
