Calling all crafters, Thompson Unlimited will host their second annual northern market on Sept. 7 and 8 at the Gordon Beard arena.

The northern market is a chance for local crafters and small home-based businesses to market themselves to the community and sell their wares.

This year’s market has already garnered more participation with 10 vendors making commitments, two more than last year’s turn out of eight.

Thompson Unlimited Development Coordinators Betty Landego and Roxie Binns are both pleased with the numbers so far and expect that a few more vendors may trickle in at the last minute, as was the case last year.

“We only have one returning vendor from last year,” said Landego, “so we’ve go nine new vendors, and most of the vendors last year came in at the last minute so we hope that’s what happens again this year.”

The two coordinators expect an impressive variety of products with seven crafters, two home businesses and one food producer slated to have stations set up at the arena.

“There’s quite a variety this year,” said Binns, “there will be things like quilts and jewellery. It’s great to see the talent that we have around town and it’s a big help for the vendors to get their products out there.”

Each vendor must pay $20 to rent the space for the weekend, this money goes back to Thompson Unlimited, but every dollar earned by the vendors goes in to their own pockets.

A big turn-out is expected for the second instalment of the event, as it will be running in conjunction with Leisure Mart and on the grand opening weekend of the new Thompson Regional Community Centre.

“It’s great to partner with something like Leisure Mart when you’re just starting out,” said Landego, “we’ve got a great weekend to hold it and I think it’s going to go really well.”

Vendors and consumers will not be the only focus of the weekend, as Thompson Pride awards will be given out as well, with plaques being awarded to businesses and certificates to Thompson residents who won yard of the week awards.

“The weekend is a great chance to meet lots of people from the community and the vendors, as well as the winners of Thompson Pride,” said Binns, “it’s a really fun event and we want to keep the ball rolling with it.”

To date, all vendors for this year’s northern market are local, though Binns and Landego say that there has been some interest from vendors from outlying communities and that perhaps in the future it will grow to be a regional event.