While Saskatoon experienced a day of cloud cover and rain, local artists still found a way to add some colour to their community at the final Art in the Park event of the summer. “It’s been really good. We had three really awesome events in local parks. This is the only one that we’ve got rained on, but we had a really good summer so far,” said Kelly Gabrielson, organizer of Art in the Park Summer Festivals. The series has hosted up to 150 local artists at a handful of parks throughout Saskatoon. This year’s final event was held at Buena Vista Park. The event series has been an annual one since 2022, and Gabrielson said that is thanks to such a strong community. “I’m just so happy. In Saskatoon, people really show up for their neighbours, and we have lots of people who still came out today, grab their umbrellas, grab their rain jackets, put on their rubber boots, and they came out and it’s just so nice to see,” Gabrielson said. The event organizer added that this art market is unique in the way it aims to be more accessible to all makers, especially those who are just starting out and gaining experience in the community. “Our summer is so short, so having events like this, especially ones that are lower cost. If we have them in a park, it’s a bit lower cost, so the smaller companies can come out and they can just make some extra cash, make some money... So it’s really nice to be able to have people come out and make a little bit of extra cash,” Gabrielson said. Ruthann Zantinge is new to the world of art markets, having recently started a crochet business called Tulips & Maple. “This one particularly is great for me because I’m just starting. And so the vendor fee is not as expensive as some others. So this is great for me to be here and it’s great to meet other vendors as well to see what they’re doing and it’s a good thing to be part of,” Zantinge said. Zantinge said when she woke up to the rain, she didn’t even consider opting out of the final market of the year. “It wasn’t a question for me. I’m just like, no, I committed, so I’m going to be here... It’s excellent, it’s something to do on a rainy day...I like it because it’s outside. Today, of course it’s raining, but it gets me out in the community, and I get to meet people, and it’s so wonderful,” Zantinge said
