A free community market launched Friday, Oct. 2, along the walking trail at Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex, 2650 Waldemere St.

The City of Sarasota Parks and Recreation Department organized the First Fridays market-at-the-trail as the first in a new monthly series. The market ran from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and featured local vendors offering handmade goods, crafts, plants, gifts, food and beverages, according to the city's events listing.

First market draws more than a dozen vendors

The debut drew more than a dozen vendors and visitors, many accompanied by dogs, to the trail, as Your Observer reported. Recreation specialist DebbieLee Ruiz said the event grew out of a successful plant sale at the park in April.

"I felt like we needed to expand to a lot of the seniors within this community, so this has been great so far," Ruiz said. "They love this farmers market concept."

Ruiz said the Friday schedule was chosen to avoid competing with the Sarasota Farmers Market, which runs every Saturday in downtown Sarasota at Main Street and Lemon Avenue.

The October edition served as a soft launch. Organizers are seeking more vendors, particularly artisanal sellers and food vendors offering products such as cheese and bread.

Susan Morris and Amy Vaccaro of Kaleidoscope Butterflies & Gardens sold pollinator plants and brought chrysalises so attendees could watch butterflies emerge.

City plans November and December markets

If the November and December editions go well, the city plans to continue the market through April.

The November market is expected to include the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, Sarasota Garden Club, Girl Scouts and UF/IFAS.

Coming up

The next First Fridays market at Arlington Park is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A third market is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4.

Vendors interested in participating can find registration information and updates on the city's First Fridays market-at-the-trail event page.