Take a trip to Market Days

June 28, 2009

Take a trip to
Market Days
By Kristi Kates 6/29/09
Up north visitors familiar with Blissfest may also be familiar with the
nearby Good Hart Mini-Fair. The Mini-Fair takes place each year, first
started in the late 1970s by Good Hart General Store owner Carolyn
Sutherland as a means to raise money for the local volunteer fire
department.
Sutherland offered the use of her property for the Mini-Fair, and
suggested Labor Day weekend for the first occurrence of the event, to
coincide with the 1,500 cyclists passing through as part of the DALMAC
bike tour. The fair was a hit, and several years later was moved to Keith
Lamkin’s field, across the street from the store.
“Eventually, the fire department was able to secure their own land up on
Robinson Road, and the fair was moved there,” Sutherland says.

ARTISAN EXPANSION
Since the early days of the Mini-Fair, Sutherland has pondered hosting a
similar smaller-scale, weekly community event at her general store. Now,
the idea has been developed by Sutherland’s daughter, marketing consultant
Ami Woods, is set to debut this June, and has been dubbed Good Hart Market
Days.
Sutherland wanted to be able to offer her location and the general store’s
traffic to area farmers, producers, artists, and artisans so that they can
have a free outlet for selling their products. The result? Good Hart
Market Days’ eclectic vendor roster, which is already proving to offer a
little something for everyone.
“Visitors to the market can expect to find an offering of local fruits and
vegetables along with locally produced art,” Sutherland explains. “Items
for sale which have already been confirmed include fruits and vegetables
from the Hannah Farm, maple syrup from Harwood Heritage Gold,
custom jewelry from Fusion Art, original chainsaw lawn art and hand sewn
quilts from the Horn family, and custom toys created by Mary Hramiec’s
nephew—just to name a few.”

GOOD HART, GOOD MUSIC
Blissfest will also be participating in Good Hart Market Days via a little
live entertainment; Blissfest Executive Director Jim Gillespie and
Blissfest have offered to provide music for Market Days this summer, with
Gillespie’s own band, Dr. Good Hart’s Home Remedy, performing.
“The atmosphere is unknown as this is our first year,” Sutherland
says. “However, we are very excited about Blissfest’s participation, and
we look forward to the live music aspect and what that will contribute.”
The Good Hart General Store will also make available an outdoor barbecue
on Saturday afternoons, which will included seasoned chicken on the grill,
baked beans, homemade potato salad, and their famous chocolate chip
cookies; Market Days t-shirts commemorating the first year of the event
will also be sold.
“Vendors participating in at least four of the market days will be noted
on the shirts,” Sutherland explains. “A portion of every sale will be
donated to the R.F.C. Fire Rescue team by the Good Hart General Store in
an effort to support their much needed services.”

ROAD TO MARKET
Sutherland hopes that the Market Days event will benefit Good Hart and the
surrounding communities as well.
“Thousands of visitors travel M-119 every year, and most stop at our
store,” Sutherland says. “We wanted to be able to utilize that traffic by
giving back to the community with an event that would create an even
greater destination and would also benefit local farmers and
artists. There is no fee to participate, and anyone wishing to be a part
of Good Hart Market Days is encouraged to visit our website or call us for
additional information on participating; we are still welcoming vendors,
and hope that everyone will take this opportunity to use the market as an
outlet for sale of their products.”
“With local goods, live music, and a beautiful location, this is going to
be a great event,” she continues. “I can’t think of a better Saturday
afternoon—get in the car, drive north, stop and enjoy some music and the
vendor offerings, and proceed on for dinner, perhaps at Legs Inn. That’s a
perfect northern Michigan day, and we hope that everyone will experience
it.”

Good Hart Market Days will be held every Saturday until August 15 (no
event July 4), from 2-5 p.m. at the Good Hart General Store.  Good Hart is
located
along M-119, 14 miles north of Harbor Springs and 7 miles south of Cross
Village. For additional info, visit www.goodhartstore.com or call
231-526-7661.