Visit AKY vendor market a family-friendly fright

Oct. 29—ASHLAND — Spiders, zombies, witches and ghouls were aplenty on Saturday during Visit AKY's final market of the year.

The Halloween theme was ghastly in comparison to other market's throughout the year, however, Saturday's event at Broadway Square maintained its typical components: multiple local vendors, food options and a fun atmosphere.

To fit the Halloween-theme, multiple vendors, like Jonathan Wessel with the Judith Knife Company and Ricky Reeves with Foxfire & Pitchwater, included some creepy goods receiving a steady rotation of visitors.

Wessel served as the market's very own blacksmith, presenting handmade knives, along with signage saying 'If you bleed on it, you buy it.'

Reeves's booth kept with the ominous theme, including spiritual protection jars, pendulums, crystals, herbs and handmade Ouija boards.

If one of the hundreds of attendees weren't apt to purchase weaponry or tools for spiritual contact, Peanut's Balloon and Yard Cards could twist up a balloon animal or swing by Shauna Boyd's booth for face painting.

Several other booths consisted of local crafters and artists with a wide selection of Halloween-inspired goodies.

Brandy Clark, Executive Director of Visit AKY, said choosing the theme of 2023's final market was obvious given the Halloween season.

Clark said roughly 40 vendors had registered to take part in the fun with about 300 guests steadily rotating throughout the evening.

With the winter season approaching and frigid weather expected, Saturday marked the final outdoor market of the 2023 season but Clark said the promotion of local shopping would continue.

On Nov. 17, 18 and 19, Boyd and Greenup Counties will participate in Pink Weekend with more than 20 boutiques already signed up to participate.

Set up similarly to Ashland's Burger Week, participants will receive a passport to check off local shops which will host giveaways, special discounts and lots of foot traffic, Clark said.