By Crystal McGough, Editor
PINSON – In November 2021, Patti, the owner of Patti’s on Main Street Flea Market/Consignment in Pinson, launched an initiative to help the small-town businesses peppering Pinson Main Street after the 2020 pandemic.
Bringing the community together, the businesses of Main Street hosted the first-ever Pinson Trade Days on Nov. 6, 2021. The inaugural event, which offered free vendor space, was a huge success.
Now, two years later, the businesses of Main Street will be celebrating the second anniversary of Pinson Trade Days on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with new features including a children’s talent show.
“People tell us all the time, ‘We love Pinson Trade Days,’” Patti said. “‘It’s something we look forward to,’ they tell me.”
Originally, Trade Days took place the first Saturday of each month, eight months out of the year, taking off the months of January, February, May and October due to winter weather and conflicting events. Now, Trade Days will be held every month, weather permitting, usually on the first Saturday but with the option of moving to another weekend if necessary.
“Vendors seem to be excited about it,” Patti said. “October’s first Saturday is the Butterbean Festival and the first Saturday in May is the Bicentennial Park, so those months we’ll do the second Saturday. If we get one nice warm day in January and February, whichever Saturday in the month is the warmest, that’s when we will do Pinson Trade Days.”
Another newer feature will be that Pinson Main Street will be open to traffic, whereas in previous years it has been closed for Trade Days. Not only does Patti hope this will help draw attention to the event, but it will also help with parking, ensuring that attendees will not have to park further away and walk long distances to attend Trade Days.
While shopping the vendor booths and enjoying the children’s talent show, those who come to Pinson Trade Days will also have the opportunity to patronize local businesses such as Price’s Ice Cream, Barking Bee Coffee, Celina’s Boutique, Love Life Naturals, Patti’s on Main Street and more. Shoppers can get a head start on the holidays while enjoying the local dining and refreshments Pinson has to offer.
“We want to help as many people as we can and have fun at the same time,” Patti said. “Pinson Trade Days, we hope, also helps all our small businesses on Main Street in Downtown Pinson. Soon we will be starting a third year and I want us to get bigger and better.”
Part of the plan to get bigger and better includes features like the talent show, and in December, potentially a Christmas fashion show. And, of course, vendor spaces will continue to be offered free to help bring quality vendors to the Pinson community. Vendors must sign up for their space, however, by visiting Patti’s on Main Street during their regular business hours, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We can’t thank the city of Pinson enough for letting us do Pinson Trade Days every month,” Patti said. “My sincere thank-you to the city of Pinson.”