Grand Opening Set for Mokena Downtown Merchants Market

For the past few weeks, Saturday mornings have seen the . As more than 40 vendors line the street selling food, home items and more, residents from Mokena—and surrounding suburbs—descend on the market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, May 26, marks the official Grand Opening of the market, with festivities lined up, starting at 10 a.m.

“We decided to do it because at the beginning of the market, we were still working on getting all of our vendors in,” said Barb Bergman, a spokesperson for the Mokena Downtown Merchants Association. “We wanted to give them a few weeks to get everybody in and settled in.”

As the weeks have progressed from the market's humble beginning on April 28, Bergman said the market has gained 10-plus vendors per week and that she hopes that trend continues. She added that the crowds for the market continue to grow and grow, which is exactly what she hoped would happen.

“Last week, we had people waiting in their cars just to get a parking spot,” she said.

To celebrate the grand opening of the market, there will be a celebratory opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and musician David Molinari will perform from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Burgman said that the event is the first of many for the market, which hopes to host a July Fourth children's parade as well.

“We're just hoping for great attendance from reisdents of the village, to show their support of the market,” said Charlene Bergman, who is also part of the Mokena Downtown Merchants, adding, “We just need the village people, both of our village and neighboring villages, to come out and support everybody.”

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