Springfest

Celebrate flowers, foods of the season

photo Shoppers at a previous Chattanooga Market select flowers for a spring bouquet.

IF YOU GOWhat: Springfest at Chattanooga Market.When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 28Where: First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Reggie White Blvd.Admission: FreePhone: 423-648-2496Website: www.chattanoogamarket.com

If last Sunday's Chattanooga Market opening was a rite of spring for local residents pent up by the cool, wet weather, this week's Market celebrates all that is spring.

"Everyone is so excited for the Market to be open," says marketing and media-relations director Melissa Siragusa. "It's such a sign of spring."

She says nearly 20,000 attended the opening weekend at the First Tennessee Pavilion in an effort to jump-start the balky spring season.

This Sunday's Springfest is expected to offer food from more than 50 area farms and nearly the record 200 vendors that opening day brought.

"Fresh-cut flowers will be a big hit," Siragusa predicts.

The variety, she says, is "quite a sight. There are buckets and buckets."

Not even the early season fruits and vegetables are at peak, "but there will be strawberries," Siragusa says. "Everything is about a week late"

She cautions shoppers not to tarry because the berries will go quickly.

The vendors, which more and more this year will spill out of the pavilion and onto patios and even onto Reggie White Boulevard, will expand in categories such as produce, meats, cheeses, breads, eggs and gourmet foods, Siragusa says.

"We think everybody knows we're here," she says, "but every week I run into people who have never heard of us." She tells them the Market is all about "locally grown food and artisan goods and live music."

On Sunday, live entertainment will be provided by the Folk School of Chattanooga. That will include the all-female ensemble Sing It Sister, young hammered-dulcimer players, musical chairs, a flatfoot dance workshop, round singing, bluegrass, jazz and blues sets and a jam session.

Contact staff writer Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6497. Subscribe to his posts online at Facebook.com/ClintCooperCTFP.

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