From selling fresh fruit to handmade items, the Wednesdays in Willamette Summer Street Market take place annually between May and September. During this event, local creators and producers have the opportunity to showcase their work while interacting with customers.
Last summer, Lucia LaViolette, junior, participated in the market and sold handmade crochet items. Her pieces ranged from scarves and hats to plushies and keychains. She originally applied with the intent to pay for a choir trip organized by the Oregon Ambassadors of Music.
“I found all the information online about how to apply and filled out all the forms,” LaViolette said. “It was pretty simple to get signed up, but I was mainly doing it to raise money for that trip.”

LaViolette has been crocheting for years, ever since her grandmother taught her how to knit when she was younger.
“It’s a pretty fun activity to do, and because I have been doing it for so long, I have improved so much,” LaViolette said. “Someone can give me almost any pattern and I can make it, but it’s a really long learning process. When I started out everything was wonky, so it’s definitely something that you do with practice and repetition.”
Continuing the hobby through middle school, LaViolette and Cadence Cox, junior, started a fiber arts club in their freshman year, but it never got enough traction to continue.
“[At the market,] it was cool to be in a community of fine artists because there’s not that much of it at the high school,” LaViolette said. “It was really fun and I met a lot of like-minded arts people.”
Some vendors at the market have been involved for years, whereas others do it only once. Each year, sellers offer new inventory to showcase publicly. Although she still crochets, LaViolette does not plan on participating this year since she is not saving up for a trip.
“It’s such a good opportunity because it teaches you a drive to work and produce your products,” LaViolette said. “It was cool to connect and meet people who enjoy your products, which makes you feel good, too.”
Some vendors at the market have been involved for years, whereas others do it only once.

For seven years, Jessica Hackett and her husband Zach Hackett have sold alpaca and llama products from Peru, woodworking pieces, produce, and more at the market. Their business, called Halo Ranch, has been in the alpaca industry for over 10 years, and they originally started with holiday markets but have increased their inventory and outsourcing since then.
“Being a vendor brings in more foot traffic to offer our items to clients and educates children and their parents about alpacas and the unique items and benefits of using alpaca products,” Hackett said.
Their woodworking products range from calendars to chairs, and several of them are customizable. The majority come from recycled wine barrels, and the larger items can take up to two weeks to create. They sell these pieces and the rest of what they have to offer at other markets in Oregon City and Happy Valley as well.
“I have seen vendors come and go, but many come offering a wider range of handcrafted products, unique foods, and unique opportunities to educate the public about many new things,” Hackett said. “Willamette is a safe place that allows families with children and pets to come out and enjoy the weather, and be able to walk up and down the streets to see all the products being offered.”
The market debuted this year on May 21 and is located on Willamette Falls Drive. It will run every Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. until Sept. 10. Applications are available on the Historic Willamette Main Street website, and there are volunteer opportunities community members may sign up for to assist with this tradition.