The Pike County Chamber of Commerce will hold its first “Downtown Market” on Saturday, kicking off the new event series that will be held every other week through November 5.

The market will feature local produce, baked goods, jams and jellies, plants, flowers and artisan crafts.

Leigh Anne Windham with the Downtown Committee said more than 20 vendors have signed up and that more could sign on before Saturday or future markets.

Nick D’Andrea, manager of the Pike County Farmers’ Market said that the local market provides residents a different opportunity than grocery store produce sections.

“Somebody might go to the store and get sweet potatoes or collards and they don’t know where they came from and who produced them,” D’Andrea said. “At the market you can see the people who produced it, get good quality food and have the food go from the field to the table in less than 48 hours.”

D’Andrea also said that the vast majority of the farmers that will be vendors at the market don’t use chemicals. Another benefit over going to the store is the ability to find different thing such as honey still on the comb and handmade bluebird houses, he said.

“There’s going to be a lot of different varieties there,” he said.

The vendors will set up in the interior parking spots at the Square, but Windham said there will be plenty of parking for those who want to come out for the market.

“There should be plenty of parking because of the timing,” Windham said.

The market will be held from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., but Windham said that she hopes people will stick around downtown after the market closes.

“I hope that people will come down and make this a day-long event for one big fun day that can take place downtown,” Windham said. “Hopefully people will stay downtown to shop and eat while they’re here and make a day out of it.”

Windham said that some local merchants will be having sidewalk sales and early hours in concordance with the event.

The next dates for the market are September 24, October 8, October 22 and November 5.

To register as a vendor, call Leigh Anne Windham at 334-674-2468. Vendor registration is $30 for the entire fall season.

For more information, go to www.pikecoc.com/downtownmarket.