Frequently Asked Questions
When and Where is Saturday Market?
The Market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from the first Saturday in April through mid-November on the Park Blocks at 8th & Oak in downtown Eugene. Admission is free and the hours are 10 AM to 4 PM, and free parking can be found at the Parcade and Overpark parking structures (except on event days). On the weekend before Thanksgiving the Market opens its Holiday Market which runs weekends through December 24th at the Lane County Fairgrounds. The Holiday Market also offers free admission and free parking (within the Lane County Fairgrounds).
Can I bring my dog, cat, ferret, parrot, snake, or other pet?
Unfortunatley, no. Due to our contract with the City of Eugene, no pets are allowed on the Park Blocks during Market hours. The County Health Department also requires that no pets be present in the Food Court area. While we offer several different pet products, you may not sell or give away animals at the Market. Service animals, such as seeing-eye dogs, are allowed but must be on a leash. Thank you for your understanding!
What is the history of Saturday Market?
The first Saturday Market was held on May 9, 1970. It rained, and there were 29 vendors. The Market now has over 800 active members and nearly 300 of these members sell each week, rain or shine.
The founder of Saturday Market is Lotte Streisinger, who is still an active member of the Eugene arts community. She brought the vision of a Saturday marketplace to Eugene from market plazas she saw in Central America coupled with childhood memories of European markets.
The first Saturday Market was held in the alley next to the Oak Street Overpark. After a short one summer stand on the plaza in front of the County Courthouse, the Market was moved to the “Butterfly” parking structure across from the courthouse. Saturday Market moved to its present site on the Park Blocks in April, 1983.
How and what can I sell, and how much does it cost?
Handcrafters are welcomed into the Saturday Market without a jury approving their work, though products are “screened” in advance to ensure they fit our handcrafting guidelines. The prime guideline for selling at Market is that all products must be sold by the person who made them or a member of his or her family living in Oregon. The Saturday Market Standards Committee enforces product standards related to uniqueness, originality and craft processes. The Member Handbook and the Craft Specific Guidelines contain all the information you need. The Member’s section of this site has pages full of helpful information, especially the “Selling at Market” page. You can apply online from the Market Applications page.
At the first Saturday Market, each vendor was charged one dollar. Today vendors pay an annual membership fee of $60.00 and $15.00 plus 10% of their sales for their weekly 8′ x 8′ booth space, quite reasonable rent for a weekly store front.
Can I start my own Saturday Market?
Eugene’s Saturday Market is the original Saturday Market. The name “Saturday Market” is used by other similar markets around the state of Oregon with the permssion of the Saturday Market Board of Directors. To gain permission, Markets must adhere to “the Maker is the Seller” basic guideline. There are currently other independent Saturday Markets operating in Portland, Bend, Salem, and Ashland. If you are interested in starting a Saturday Market in your area, basic information about how this Market is organized is available through the Market office.
What about the Lane County Farmers’ Market?
Lane County Farmers’ Market takes place each Saturday across the street from the Park Blocks April through December, and also on Tuesdays from May through October. The Farmers’ Market is an independent organization and Saturday Market’s sister market. First set up under the auspices of Saturday Market in 1979, Farmers’ Market became independent in 1989.
How is the Market organized?
Saturday Market is an Oregon not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide a low cost marketplace for local handcrafters and artisans as well as a weekly celebration for the Eugene community. There is a full time staff of three plus two Saturday Market assistants and additional site-crew members.
The Market’s annual operating budget is over $500,000 and over $2.5 million of local handcrafts and food items are sold during Market events annually. The Market’s operating budget comes almost entirely from its members, receiving no state, federal or grant funding.
Saturday Market is governed by a nine member Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of market members, along with members of the community.
Besides handcrafted goods, what’s available at Market?
There are fifteen food booths in the International Food Court offering a wide variety of foods made fresh on-site. Culinary traditions of Afghanistan, Thailand, India, France, Mexico, Japan, Great Britain and Italy are represented along with several all-American favorites. Food booths must meet rigid Market guidelines regarding originality and uniqueness.
Saturday Market is a major supporter of local performing artists. Normally, there are continuous performances on a weekly basis on the Market Stage. Including Holiday Market, over one thousand performers appear on the Market Stages each year. In addition, the marketplace has room for all types of strolling entertainers. Dancing is encouraged! For information about performing, please contact Rudolf Korv.
There is plenty of free parking just one block from the Market’s site in the two city parking garages (except on event days) – The Overpark at Oak & Broadway, and The Parcade at 8th & Willamette.
Support artisans here in Oregon! You can contribute to the Eugene Saturday Market, and help us support local artisans and micro-businesses. The Saturday Market is a not-for-profit and artist first organization. To get started click on the ‘Support the Saturday Market’ button.
You can also donate to the Kareng Fund: an Emergency Relief Fund for artists here in Oregon. The Kareng Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit that supports artists, who have awarded over $100,000 in grants to artists in crisis. To donate and/or learn more about the Kareng Fund, click the ‘Support the Kareng Fund’ button.