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The Elks Lodge is planning a Red, White and Blue Market and Picnic at The Columbus AirPark Thursday.
This year’s market and picnic marks the second time the lodge has sponsored the event, with Elks Lodge member Kesha Taylor saying they saw a great turnout in terms of vendors last year. She said that this year, they will be lowering the number of vendors and artisans, focusing on quality.
“We’re going to have less than 20,” Kesha Taylor said. “It’s going to be a very curated vendor selection.”
The idea for the market and picnic came from their location in Columbus AirPark and from QMIX offering their musical fireworks the same day, Kesha Taylor said. This gave them a prime location to offer a secondary aspect to that community event, she said.
“So our main goal was to make a connection with the community, uplift local businesses, support our community ties and raise awareness for the Elks Lodge’s mission,” Kesha Taylor said.
That mission being to help others in the community, Elks Lodge Board of Directors Trustee Gina Taylor said, and they accomplish this in ways such as offering their space for senior projects and providing annual scholarships for kids. During this year’s Red, White and Blue Market and Picnic, the lodge will be helping the community by raising money for Parkinson’s disease through 50/50 drawings and bourbon raffles, Gina Taylor said.
On the market side of the event, guests can visit vendors and artisans’ booths for a wide selection of goods. The Name Brigade, a bracelet maker, will be bringing their vast assortment of customized bracelets, and Kasia’s Ranch Creative Design will be offering live wood burning and finished products.
Other vendors include Rainbow Bites Gem Candy, Zap’d Permanent Jewelry, Titillating Treasures and more. Four food trucks will be present at the event, selling both savory and sweet food. The backyard area of the lodge will also be open with a playground and bouncy house for kids, as well as outdoor seating, Kesha Taylor said.
“We will have onsite parking and viewing of the QMIX Musical Fireworks, and then the lodge will be open to the public at 2 p.m. so people will get to see what the lodge has to offer and the fundraising aspect that will go to the Parkinson’s disease fundraiser,” Kesha Taylor said.
Providing live music for the evening will be the local Albino Catfish Band, who will play from 6 to 9:30 p.m. To wrap up the evening, QMIX 107.3 will be presenting their 35th annual Musical Fireworks starting at 10 p.m.
“This market is a joint effort to celebrate summer, support small businesses and bring attention to the incredible work the Elks Lodge does for our youth and veterans,” Kesha Taylor said. “We hope to leave this event feeling inspired, connected and proud to be where we’re from.”
The Red, White and Blue Market and Picnic is free for the public to attend.
