Friday, September 13, 2024
AZLE — The FeedLot , at 225 Church St., was home to food trucks, vendors and live local music Thursday evening, Aug. 8, for the location’s first-ever Thursday night market.
Amanda Scott, special events coordinator for the City of Azle, took over operations for the city-owned FeedLot earlier this summer. She said the Thursday night market was an experiment to see what works for the vendors and the community. If there’s enough interest, Scott said she hopes to potentially open the market Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. With school in session and cooler temps on the horizon, Scott hopes to capitalize on high school football season this fall.
“I'm excited about this,” Scott said. “We have a lot of really cool stuff coming up. We're going to start streaming the away games here. We're going to have watch parties and a DJ for halftime, and we're going to invite the peewee cheerleaders out to perform cheer and dance.”
The hard work and persistence of vendors who came out to sell their wares in nearly triple-digit heat was not lost on Scott. Even with a high of 104 F Aug. 8, the organizer was satisfied to see cars lined up along the length of Church Street to check out the goods and goodies on display.
“The vendors are amazing,” Scott said. “Before I started, (I never thought about) the work that has gone in to prepping with the food trucks, prepping for the vendors. It's like, gosh, your heart just goes out to them. You want them to be successful.”
While attending the vendors’ night, Mayor Pro Tem Randa Goode said she is a big fan of the Azle Farmers Market and that she’s made it out every weekend.
“I think it's awesome that they're opening other opportunities, especially for evening,” Goode said. “You know, consumers can come out after work and get some fresh vegetables and fruits. I love it. I hope to continue to see it grow.”
Vivian Pena’s business, www.aurapothecary.com, filled a corner of the market with fresh scents of frankincense, lavender and jasmine. Pena makes soaps and deodorants from her Fort Worth home. Her products are advertised as natural, edible and scented with essential oils.
“I love it,” Pena said of the Thursday night market. “I think it gives more opportunities for everybody that lives in Azle, local restaurants and us the vendors as well and it definitely helps our families.”
Fun guys and gals from Poolville-based McPherson Family Farms were also represented at the Azle Farmers Market. “All in Fungi’s” Christina Robinson sold farm-grown pearl oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms raw, powdered and in cookie form.
Songwriter, singer and entertainer Chris Journeay also performed country hits and covers of local legends for the entertainment of the park’s shoppers and diners. With concerns that the FeedLot violated the city’s noise ordinance, amplified live music was briefly halted at the food truck park last month. Since then, city staff reports having received numerous requests to bring back the music. City planners stated that the bands play a vital role in creating an inviting atmosphere for the venue’s patrons. During an Aug. 5 Azle City Council meeting, council members voted to amend the Parks and Recreation Ordinance (Article 1.09.035 in the Code of Ordinances) to place the FeedLot in the same exempted category as the Central Park Amphitheater and Ash Creek Community Center.
Saturday, Aug. 17, the FeedLot celebrated the dog days of summer by partnering with the Azle Animal Shelter to have an adoption day, dog treat cooking demo and dog training presentation. To keep up to date with FeedLot hours and activities follow “The FeedLot” on Facebook.
