MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Mitchell’s Hitchcock Park will turn into an art market this weekend that brings vendors from thousands of miles away to the area.
Nancy Conzemius is a member of the organizing committee. She provides more details. “We have actually about 180…vendors coming from states as far away as Montana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, [and] Texas…I believe we have seven states represented, seven or eight.”
Mayor Jordan Hanson also serves on the committee. He explained to Mitchell Now how they were able to make the event a destination experience for so many vendors. “We have one of the cheapest entry fees, probably…in the state for sure. And we want to make sure that we can get as many vendors as we can get here, just to make it a great event, so that more families can enjoy it. So, we put on a great show. I think we are very nice to the vendors. We’re very nice to the customers and the patrons. And then we just try to make it free and cheap, and everyone can attend.”
The event starts on Friday evening from 6:00 to 9:00. Hanson says, “All the vendors are going to be able to start coming in around two o’clock, but they’re all going to get set up. So, we have a live band, Skar. They’re a really good band that’s going to play…your classics…And everyone, as they’re setting up, some people are going to set up quickly. Some people are going to take a little bit longer. But it’s just going to be…a welcome party where everyone’s just having a good time and setting up all their goods and stations.”
The fun continues on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Admission is free, and the whole family will have activities that will appeal to them. Food trucks will be selling a wide variety of menu options. A Jr. Arts In The Park fair runs on Saturday morning, followed by a classic car show from noon until 4 p.m. Live entertainment and a beer garden are also on tap.
Hanson and Conzemius resurrected Arts in the Park after it had gone on hiatus for the better part of two decades. Hanson beams that this new version generates the same childhood excitement for this generation that he grew up with. “When I was a young kid, I remember looking down the pavement and just seeing white tents all up and down Hitchcock Park. And I remember after we did it the first year, I remember seeing it just packed with people, and that’s just my most favorite thing.
“It’s just seeing so many people walk up and down Hitchcock Park’s main alleyway. I remember the first year we did it, I was driving my golf cart. I had to stop and get off my golf cart because there were so many people I couldn’t even drive anymore. It’s just awesome to see.”