Interview with organizer Sommer Steel

This isn’t a market or fair where you’ll see 10 booths for stationery, 10 booths for jewelry, and then a few tables selling you insurance, child care, or a free 20-minute standing chiropractic adjustment. Steele intentionally sets out to create an authentic market where attendees can discover new talent, buy gifts for friends and family, and collect handmade pieces that will stick around for generations. 

KG: How do you decide what vendors will make up the Market? 

SS: We’re always looking for what’s missing from the vendor list. We choose 1-2 jewelers, 1-2 ceramicists, something for kids, something for women, something for men, for home, for outdoors, etc.

I’ll even read the list out to my team to see if we can hear the holes. We want everyone to be able to find something great. One year it was dogs and we brought in a vendor who made leashes and bandanas. People loved it.  

We always leave room for first-time vendors and our wild card spots – a new vendor with items we’ve never seen before. One year, we brought in a resin artist. Another year, we brought in an artist who made fish out of household items like Scrabble, kitchen tiles, etc. Those instantly became crowd favorites.

KG: That sounds so cool! Who comes to the market? 

SS: We have thousands of patrons each year. The best part is that most just aren’t looking for a casual Sunday stroll through Lemont Downtown. They’re actually there to shop. For many of our vendors, it’s one of the best markets that they’ll do all year long and they’re so proud to get their work out into the world. 

In addition to the food, music, and games, loyal patrons can expect to see a few faces they’ll recognize year after year. However, we aim to bring in 40-50% new vendors and at least one product that few have seen before. The people coming from over an hour away are excited to learn their story, how they created their products, what else they sell, and then give them a follow on socials.

KG: What kind of things will they find here? 

SS: There is a little bit of something for everyone but what remains the pride and joy of the festival are all of the salved and vintage pieces. Vendors like Rusty Windmill have a 24’ trailer filled with everything from vintage golf flags, old Coca-Cola bottles and merch, license plates, enamelware, and so much more. You never really know.  Nattie’s Vintage is all mid-century modern items that have been curated for years. It’s an amazing collection with lots of on-trend pieces.

If you love vintage pieces or happen to be a collector of sorts, this is the place to be because we have an entire street full of them. 

KG: It sounds like people are at the heart of Market on Canal. 

SS: They truly are. It’s really how small business should be - you get to know the people, you know where your products are coming from, and you know that the money you spend will stay in the community and continue to grow and build it back up. 

Our fellow Lemont businesses are a huge part of the Market. One year, a new vendor from Michigan traveled in on Saturday evening only to learn that it would rain the next morning. Katie from Salon 312 heard about it and came to Lemont Downtown early on Sunday morning to unlock her door so the vendor could set up shop and everything would remain dry. This is like 6 AM! She came back down after everything was over and closed up shop. 

KG: That’s what it means to create with each other! Do you see a lot of that with the other shops and restaurants? 

SS: It’s always a favorite day in Lemont Downtown.  With the way the dates have fallen throughout the years, we’ve seen it become a Mother’s Day tradition. You can pick up gifts or spend the day shopping with Mom and treat her to lunch afterward.

For the shops that are able to open on Sundays, it’s a wonderful day of business for them and a great opportunity to see what’s new. At the heart of all Market on Canal is Lemont Downtown: a community that is dedicated to opening its doors to new friends and visitors.