The aroma of international cuisine and the sound of accordions filled the air once again as the “eclectic” population of Eugene gathered at 8th Avenue and Oak Street for the Eugene Saturday Market’s 35th-year opener this weekend.
Beth Little, the market’s general manager, said between 5,000 and 7,000 people turned out to tour the 300 arts and crafts booths, which featured products ranging from copper jewelry and candles to duct tape wallets and purses made from old record covers. All items were hand-crafted.
“The market is always new. It’s always changing,” Little said.
In addition to the arts and crafts, a diverse array of food was available in the International Food Court. The food was the most appealing part of the market for University freshman Tara McGraw.
“The tofu cheesecake is pretty good,” she said.
The food court featured cuisine from all over the world, including chicken curry, yakisoba noodles, crepes, tamales and a wide selection of other culinary treats.
Junior biology major Astra Lashbaugh, one of the employees working at Renaissance Pizza’s booth, said she has “one of the best jobs around.”
“All of the people that go to the Saturday Market are generally really nice and friendly and want to talk,” she said. “Working there is really nice. It’s a different experience.”
Lashbaugh added that she enjoyed the market’s music. The main stage was positioned right in front of the food court, and a number of acts including a polka-dot clad group named “Accordions Anonymous” performed. Additionally, a string quartet treated attendees to a bit of Mozart on the lawn.
The Farmers’ Market section featured organic produce and a number of other items, including homemade jams, honey and home-brewed sodas.
Junior architecture major Adam Di Benedetto was at the farmers’ market
selling organic fruit trees for his uncle’s farm, Earth Rising Co-Op Farm. Business was going well, according to Di Benedetto.
“I think it’s been pretty good,” he said. “I had one guy buy half of all one species we had.”
One aspect of the market that jewelry designer Mari Lee enjoys is the system of bartering that takes place between market merchants.
“If you see something you like, it’s encouraged to approach the other vendor and inquire about trading,” she said. “You’re putting your support and money back into the community.”
Candee Cole, owner of Two Cheeky Monkeys, a recycled art business, added, “There’s a lot of people in this city that are trying to live a lifestyle that’s not entirely commercial.”
Cole’s unique items included record album totes and journals made from old children’s books.
But for some, the most fascinating part of the market was not the market itself, but the people it attracted.
Senior anthropology major Blake Lawrence admitted he came to the market to “people-watch.”
“It’s Eugene and its essence,” he said. “This is Eugene.”
Sophomore Amber Word agreed.
“This is the only place you can come to see goths, hippies, skaters, little kids, old people, young people and homeless people all get along,” she said.