The first Mountville Maker's Market will be held at Froelich Park, 350 W. Main St., Mountville, on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission and parking will be free of charge.

Over 100 vendors will be present, as well as several food trucks and nonprofits from the area. The event is coordinated by entrepreneur Megan Shank, who first started working with the Mountville pool while looking for locations that would be open to hosting the market. "Driving down Columbia Avenue, I remember thinking, 'That would be the perfect spot,'" said Shank. "It was a long process to get the date approved, and I hope to make it an annual event."

Shank runs The Shank Shoppe from her home in Marietta, where she makes custom-designed pieces of apparel and home decor and plans events. "I've done smaller events but recently started dabbling into markets," she said. "One of my biggest passions is celebrating what is local, and our area has a lot of talented artists and makers. So often you have to travel far for markets, so I thought, 'Why not bring it here to celebrate Lancaster?'" The Crafted Cauldron, Lavender Lacy, The Schell Shack and LoriAnn's ART, among other vendors, will sell their wares. Food will be available to purchase from food trucks such as J&J Famous Eats, Premium Shaved Ice and The Crazy Train.

Shank worked in the corporate world for over a decade before the COVID-19 pandemic and her daughter's medical needs necessitated her transition to a full-time stay-at-home mother. "I was always creating on the side when I had time, but becoming a stay-at-home mom gave me more time and opportunity to create, and things really took off," said Shank. "I started doing weddings, flowers and whatever people needed." The Shank Shoppe has made custom T-shirts for the Manheim Township cheerleaders and frequently provided consulting and organizing services for other businesses. Recent endeavors include organizing the Marietta Christmas in July, drawing 57 vendors total. Shank is currently on the lookout for an indoor space to hold a fall and Christmas market this upcoming holiday season and planning multiple events for 2023. The Shank Shoppe will also hold a Maker's Market and Food Truck Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24, and Sunday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Fairgrounds. "Events like these allow people to connect, network and celebrate businesses in the area," said Shank. "All of my life I've been into volunteering and helping people; I love being able to benefit the community and create."

For more information, contact Shank at TheShankShoppe@gmail.com. Those interested in becoming a vendor for the event may visit http://tinyurl.com/ycxx5f6w.