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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank, Speaking on Business.
If you love art and food festivals but are challenged because you want to experience them more often, the Park Silly Sunday Market is perfect for you. This summer favorite of locals and visitors runs June through September on Park City's Historic Main Street. It supports farmers, small businesses, non-profits and musicians all while driving a unique green initiative.
Last year the Park Silly Sunday Market attracted over 150,000 visitors and sent only 24 bags of trash to the landfill with the rest being recycled and reused. That's remarkable and, it's almost 40 percent reduction from the year before. They've grown exponentially since their launch in 2007, from 35 vendors to a rotating bank of 600 vendors. The Park Silly Sunday Market features almost 100 free kids' activities in one festival season and gives over 60 free booth spaces to farmers, who usually sell out by the end of the day.
In the last seven years, the Park Silly Sunday Market has easily launched over 60 sustainable businesses throughout Utah and the Intermountain West. This includes companies like Sammy's in Park City, Red Bicycle Bread in Park City, Melty Way and the soap maker, Scrumptious Suds.
Kimberly Kuehn (coon) and two friends conceived the idea for Park City's first open-air market. They envisioned supporting local artisans while creating a brand new market and shortly after turned that dream into a reality on Main Street in Park City. Park Silly Sunday Market launched and became the only non-profit market in Utah without outside interest from surrounding states who want the same experience.
The Park Silly Sunday Market mission is to be a good corporate citizen and an incubator of businesses. The crew behind the operation includes just five full-time employees and 10 interns every year, with plenty of volunteer support. With the last market of the year right around the corner on September 21, there's still time to check it out for yourself or try to holiday market from December 11-14 at the Yarrow Hotel in Park City.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Park Silly Sunday Market Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Historic Park City Main Street www.parksillysundaymarket.com
