Journal:
Choose
Santa
Cruz
Pop
Up
Market
A
Huge
Success
Economic Development celebrated the 1st year anniversary of the ChooseSantaCruz.com website and the launch of the Choose Santa Cruz Coloring book with a PopUp Market as part of October's First Friday. Partnering again with Design by Cosmic, the event was a huge success with over 700 people coming through during the course of the evening to shop, snack, sip, network, and color. Fun fact: that is almost double the attendance of last year’s event!
The Pop Up market featured an array of local businesses that exemplify the innovation, creativity and yum-factor that Santa Cruz has to offer. Coffeeville, Childish Santa Cruz, Makse Bar, Farmer Freed Culinary Salt Blends, Agency, Glow Candle Lounge, A’zaht Designs, Companion Bakeshop, Hive & Hum, and Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association all participated as vendors, displaying, sampling, and selling some of their awesome products and services. And if that wasn’t enoughLúpulo Craft Beer House was serving up delicious tastes of their tapas and samples of their latest selection of beer.
It was a pleasure to spend a Friday evening with other food producers, jewelry designers, candle makers, and the public in order to promote and celebrate all of our hard work that goes on behind the scenes. — Emily Jane Freed, Farmer Freed Culinary Salt Blends
It was an experience for the senses for sure. Ooey gooey Salty Sally rice krispie Makse bars, colorful beads and toys from Childish, fresh Coffeeville coffee, and candle making and coloring book stations to boot, there was something for everyone at this event. Having all of these businesses in one place was certainly a treat, and with all of them located right here in our City we can get Companion pie, for example, any time we want!
Click on photo to view gallery.
Economic Development was also excited to unveil the Choose Santa Cruz coloring book, a collaboration with Santa Cruz City Arts. Drawn by local artists, the coloring book showcases all that Santa Cruz has to offer. From redwoods and rollercoasters to Victorian houses and butterflies, this coloring book has something for everyone. Kids and kids at heart stopped by to put colored pencil to coloring book at the coloring book station, sponsored by Palace Arts, and to share their creative works on social media with #ColoringSC. If you love to color but missed the event, you will be able to purchase coloring books and other Choose Santa Cruz swag on the new ChooseSantaCruz.com online store. Coming soon!
The Choose Santa Cruz brand is all about highlighting our local economy and businesses and promoting Santa Cruz as an amazing place to live and work. The Choose Santa Cruz Pop Up Market was the perfect way to promote Santa Cruz and to celebrate all that it has to offer