04 Mar The Havana Market Is Back for Year Six — and Better Than Ever
Every fourth Saturday, something special happens in the heart of downtown Havana. Vendors set up their stalls, the smell of fresh food drifts through the air, live music fills the streets, and shoppers from across Gadsden County come together for the Havana Market — now proudly in its sixth year.
More Than a Market
The Havana Market is organized by Havana Main Street, and its mission has always been bigger than just a shopping event. Jennifer Carter, Executive Director of Havana Main Street, says it’s one of the organization’s most powerful tools for local economic development.
“Havana Main Street works hard to promote our local businesses and the economic development of Havana. We do that through multiple events throughout the year, with the Havana Market being a strong one. We not only bring local makers, farmers, and bakers to our market — we also have some live music and food vendors. So they bring the foot traffic,” Carter said.
That foot traffic doesn’t just benefit the vendors — it flows into the surrounding downtown shops and restaurants, giving the whole area a boost on market day.
A Launchpad for Local Businesses
For many vendors, the Havana Market has been the starting point for something much bigger. Ashley Clark, Co-Owner of Lee Boy Apiary, a local fresh honey business, said the market was the very first one her family ever joined — and it changed everything.
“Havana Market was actually the first market that we ever started doing with our apiary, and since the start of it we have gotten loyal customers, and we get regular business every time we go,” Clark said.
That’s the kind of story that defines this market: not just transactions, but relationships. Vendors and shoppers return month after month, building the kind of community connection that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Come See for Yourself
The Havana Market takes place every fourth Saturday of the month in Downtown Havana, featuring handmade goods, fresh food, specialty items, unique crafts, and live music. The next market is scheduled for March 28th — mark your calendar and come discover what makes downtown Havana so worth visiting.
This post is based on reporting originally published by WTXL ABC 27.