Ligonier Country Market will open its regular season as planned May 17, with the approval of Ligonier Township.
Township Supervisors Dan Resenic, John Beaufort and John Fraser this week approved a modification of the market’s conditional-use permit, allowing the market to begin its season this year and going forward on the first Saturday after Mother’s Day. Supervisors Erik Ross and Stephanie Verna weren’t able to attend the permit hearing and a related special meeting, township manager Michael Strelic said.
Opening in mid-May for at least the past decade, the nonprofit market technically had been in violation of 2008 permit language that indicated the popular venue couldn’t open before Memorial Day — which falls on May 26 this year.
“The market is very happy to open the same weekend it has for the last decade,” market director Kelly Svesnik said in a text message to TribLive. “We are looking forward to a fantastic year and celebrating our 50th season.”
The market is held 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Loyalhanna Watershed Association field just west of Ligonier Borough. It intends to operate this year through Sept. 27, according to a separate event permit.
Svesnik estimated each Saturday market attracts between 3,000 and 5,000 visitors, depending on the weather and if it occurs during a holiday weekend. That number can increase to 6,000 during a special Holiday Market, which has been held in early November.
“We weren’t worried about picking a (specific) date,” Resenic said of the market opening. “Going forward, it’s always going to be the first Saturday after Mother’s Day.”
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, which is May 11 this year.
Initially, the market asked to change its approved opening date to 20 weeks before the last weekend in September. Attorney Mark Sorice, who represents the market, said the reference to Mother’s Day seemed to be an easier way to describe the desired opening date.
“It was just a clarification of what they wanted,” Fraser said later of the approved permit change.
Recently appointed to a vacancy on the board of supervisors, Fraser said he frequently attends the Ligonier Country Market.
On April 24, the township planning commission recommended granting the market’s request for a permit change after hearing from several vendors and downtown Ligonier business owners. They spoke about the importance of having the market open in mid-May, for their own bottom line and for attracting visitors to the community.
A half dozen people provided similar testimony at the hearing before the supervisors, Fraser said, adding, “90% of it was about the good things the market had to offer.”
No one spoke in opposition to the permit change at either proceeding.
After a former vendor who was ousted by a change in market policy recently brought the 2008 language to the attention of township officials, the supervisors had voted March 25 to uphold the permit’s previous Memorial Day clause.
The new market policy states that vendors whose products are sold at more than 60 retailers, or sold out-of-state, cannot take part in the market.
Market officials have said they will limit the number of vendors each week to no more than 130, in accordance with a provision of the permit. Under previous market management, that number had exceeded the limit by about 20 vendors.
The township recently worked with the market to address concerns about parking and pedestrian access.
The market also holds some events in downtown Ligonier. Its Made in Ligonier Market is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday in Ligonier’s central Diamond. It will feature vendors who live in the Ligonier Valley.