May 7, 2024 For Immediate Release
Contact: The Heart of Centerville Washington Twp., marketing@hocwt.org
(CENTERVILLE, OHIO)… The area’s largest free one day open-air market is heading to a new location this year, and will be bigger and better than ever as a result. The third annual Centerville Merchant Market on Sunday, May 19, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. will be held on the lawn at St. Leonard—a CHI Living Community, 8100 Clyo Rd., Centerville.
The event is organized by the Heart of Centerville Washington Twp. (HOCWT) business association and the city of Centerville. The event is being held at St. Leonard while Stubbs Park, where it previously was held, undergoes renovations. The new location and partnership with St. Leonard allowed for the addition of 50 vendors, about 8 more food trucks, and additional space for free kids activities, said Jessica Olson, marketing director for HOCWT.
“We are very excited for our new partnership with St. Leonard to host our events done in conjunction with the city of Centerville. We think this year’s event will be the best yet thanks to the additional space plus easy access to Centerville Merchant Market on the St. Leonard campus at the corner of Clyo and Franklin,” Olson said. “It’s going to be an amazing day of shopping and dining and supporting local businesses and our community, which is what The Heart is all about.”
This one-day pop-up shopping and dining event gathers in-demand, majority women-owned businesses for a fun, upscale shopping experience featuring one-of-a-kind treasures, vintage finds, furniture, boutique clothing, jewelry, home décor, handmade items, food, beer and wine sales from local breweries, plus live entertainment.
New this year will be an expanded kids area with bubble cannons, lawn games, and chances to interact with Disney princesses and super heroes from The Fairy Godmother Events. There will also be a playful “husband daycare” sponsored by Beckel’s Humidor complete with cigars, games, and outdoor seating. Centerville Merchant Market will also include a new bag check area, allowing shoppers to stow items in a secured location near the event entrance so they can shop without becoming overloaded. To ensure there’s plenty of parking and access to the market, the Greater Dayton RTA is providing a shuttle service from the parking at Centerville High School to St. Leonard. All RTA buses are accessible for those who use a mobility device.
In addition to these new features, there will be free raffle tickets available at select HOCWT member booths, which can be used to win raffle prizes provided by market vendors, totaling more than $2,000 in value. The first 500 participants at Centerville Merchant Market will also receive a free canvas shopping bag.
There’s no ticket required, and parking is also free at the event, and the Centerville Police department will be assisting with security as well as handicap access. Those using a mobility device are encouraged to use the RTA shuttle. Merchant Market is also dog-friendly! A portion of alcohol sales will be donated by HOCWT to local charities. More information and profiles on vendors and entertainment can be found on the HOCWT social media pages.
When: Sunday, May 19 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: St. Leonard—a CHI Living Community, 8100 Clyo Rd., Centerville, OH
What: A free, family-friendly event where you can shop with more than 150 area small businesses, merchants, and crafters, treat yourself to delicious food items from over a dozen food trucks, imbibe on local brews, participate in activities, and enjoy live entertainment. Plus, receive free raffle tickets from select vendors to enter to win prizes throughout the day!
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