With warmer weather, the Friday Market at the Jacksonville Landing moved outside last week with a Downtown popup retail veteran, an Art Walk regular trying a new location for the first time and a genuine Downtown newbie.
Gary Trafford, who is better known as “The Plant Man,” started selling flowering plants Downtown five years ago when the market was in Hemming Plaza.
When the once-a-week sales opportunity moved to the Landing, Trafford followed and has been a Friday fixture ever since.
“Since 2009, I’ve been Downtown just about every Friday with my orchids, bromeliads and bonsai plants,” he said. “I even have some carnivorous plants.”
Sky Susan Sommer is a regular at First Wednesday Art Walk and decided to try the Landing market for the first time. She specializes in acrylic and oil painting and also gives lessons.
The new face at the Landing was Margaret Bartley. She shows her arts and crafts at weekend flea markets, but decided since it was two days before Mother’s Day, Downtown would be a good place to sell her handmade fabric rose corsages.
The Landing hosts more than 350 events each year including Florida/Georgia Weekend celebrations, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, New Year’s Eve and Taxslayer.com college bowl game events, St. Patrick’s Day and Independence Day.
Weekly events include live entertainment in the center courtyard offering a variety of music including classic rock, oldies, contemporary, jazz and top 40. The Landing also hosts events for the community such as charity walks and runs and the Earth Day Ecology Fair.
For the schedule of events, visit jacksonvillelanding.com
(904) 356-2466