Albany Mardi Gras, marathon participants invited to Tift Park Market

ALBANY — Organizers of the Tift Park Community Market are offering a special invitation to the thousands of visitors expected downtown for Saturday’s Snickers Marathon and Mardi Gras celebration: Take the mile-or-so drive down Jefferson Street to Tift Park for the re-opening of the weekly Friends of Tift Park Community Market.

More than 55 vendors are expected to be on hand for the return of the market, which was an overwhelming success in its initial season that started last July.

“We refer to Tift Park as the ‘gateway to downtown,’” Friends of Tift Park president and principal Community Market organizer Stephen Brimberry said Thursday afternoon. “It’s supposed to be a perfect day for all the events going on downtown, and we definitely want the people of the community as well as our visitors to join us.

“It’s maybe a mile, mile and a half from where everything’s going on downtown, and there will be plenty for everyone to enjoy. Even the runners in the marathon will have time to make it to the park. We’ll be there until 2 in the afternoon.”

Brimberry said vendors signed up for Saturday’s Neighborhood Market, which starts at 9 a.m., include everything from produce sellers to artists and craftsmen to various food trucks to nonprofit organizations looking to spread the word about their causes. Former Messendger singer/guitarist Dwain “Wimpy” Bowden and some of his rowdy music-making friends are also expected to be on hand to provide entertainment.

“We have a great variety of activities planned, and since we’re celebrating Mardi Gras, Saturday’s market has a Mardi Gras theme,” Brimberry said. “I’m not sure, but I think all the marathon and half-marathon runners will come by the park during the race, so we want to offer a special invitation for them to come back and see what we have once they cross the finish line.”

The Friends of Tift Park Community Market initially attracted in excess of 75 vendors during its grand opening at the historic park last July 19 and maintained participation of more than 50 vendors a week before shutting down for the winter. With produce sellers expected to be more plentiful once early crops are harvested starting in April, and a growing list of artists and craftsmen expressing interest in being part of the market, Brimberry and other market supporters have said they expect the number of participating vendors to grow as the event gets further into its second season.

Brimberry said donations from businesses, vendors and individuals will be used to upgrade Tift Park. Information about the market and the Friends of Tift Park organization is available online at www.tiftparkcommunitymarket.com.