One of Williams Lake’s most popular annual events is happening this weekend.
The Medieval Market at Lake City Secondary School (LCSS).
What started as an event put on by the Public Library, the Market has become a long standing tradition in the Williams Lake community for close to 40 years, that Kimberly Nowotny, a career advisor at LCSS, says is one of the largest community events of the year, with all proceeds going to the school for the students and programs.
“We get around 3,000 community members coming through to shop over the weekend,” Nowotny says. “We’ve been told by tons of people that this is one of the two main events in our community. Next to the Stampede, we’re the biggest and longest standing one, people have said about our market.”
“It’s a celebration of arts and culture for our community. We’re extremely proud of it.”
Nowotny says the Market brings over one hundred vendors from across the Cariboo and Western Canada to Williams Lake. Even though it is a massive event for businesses and the community during the winter season, one of the biggest impacts and takeaways of the Market is “how awesome” the student workers and volunteers who help with the Market are.
“A huge aspect is that we have over a hundred students working at the market. The kids help with every aspect of the Market. They design posters, help with set up, help vendors move all their wares into their booths, then move them out again at the end of the weekend.”
“Our vendors love that the students are involved. Every year we get so much positive feedback, whenever we ask it’s always about the kids, just things like ‘wow, I didn’t know teenagers were so awesome’.”
Nowotny adds that the students who help get school credits and pay that go towards graduation fees, school hoodies, yearbooks, and other school-related items and programs, as well as gain and build on employ ability skills, that students can use on their resumes and gain work references.
Professional musicians from around the community and other parts of the province come to perform at the Market, and give LCSS student musicians chances to perform alongside them. Students also gain live performance experience by playing in front of a crowd on what Nowotny calls ‘the small stage’ in the school’s gymnasium, and each year two emerging student artists continuing in fine arts are given bursaries.
“Everyone just has fun with it. All the vendors dress up medieval and decorate their booths. The costumes are so fun, it’s a low light show… You walk through our doors and you feel like you’re in kind of a magical world. There’s music playing, everything smells delicious with cedar boughs and wreaths. Homemade soups and cookies. It’s really a feast for the senses.”
The Medieval Market starts Saturday, November 16, and runs until Sunday, November 17.
Tickets for event can be bought for cash only at the door each day through the weekend.
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