PINE PLAINS — On Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Willow Roots will host a flea market at 8 and 12 North Main St.
Spearheaded by Lisa and Nelson Zayas, co-founders of Willow Roots, the flea market will feature a variety of goods for Pine Plains residents to peruse. Of the 25 vendors currently signed up, there’s a tie-dye booth, a hot dog and pretzel truck, quilted totebags, baked goods from the Rhinebeck store Cookies by Mabel, and local farms selling eggs and other produce.
In addition to farm and craft goods, a number of the vendors will be locals selling home items and collectibles yardsale-style, which the Zayases hope will give the event a true flea market feel. After presenting the idea to the Pine Plains Town Board about two months ago, the Zayases were given the go-ahead at the July 20 meeting to host the market two times a month.
Intending to make it a regular event, Willow Roots will host the flea market on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Part of what Willow Roots is about is always looking at the Pine Plains community and asking what we can do to help the community as a whole,” said Nelson. “[And a flea market] is a great way to help local artisans and local businesses. It’ll get more foot traffic right in the center of town, and hopefully that will carry over to their stores.”
Nelson also indicated that the market will dovetail nicely with the mission of Willow Roots, which runs a pantry that provides free food and clothing to residents in need. The organization is charging a nominal booth free of $10 for a 10-foot-by-10-foot space, a low barrier to entry when compared with most other craft fairs and flea markets with vendor fees of $25-$100.
“We don’t want it to be a money-losing thing for [vendors],” Nelson explained. “We want to support them, for them to have a place where they can make some money. A flea market is a place that builds community, builds friendships. You start sitting next to the same vendor, so you start to know them and maybe you go to get a bite to eat, so they watch your table, you watch their table, the kids start to play together. It’s another layer of community that we don’t have [in Pine Plains].”
Willow Roots is still accepting vendors, and has an estimated capacity of 40-50 spots per flea market day. Day-of sign up is possible, but the fee increases to $15. All proceeds from the vendor fee will go toward Willow Roots’ nonprofit programming.
Interested parties should contact Lisa Marie Agnelli at willowrootsvendors@gmail.com. The second flea market in August will take place on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
