Like Sequim, our community market is unique. Joe Irvin, the market's site manager, works to put together an inviting public space that facilitates pedestrian flow throughout the market and encourages stopping to gather, share a bite to eat, and converse with friends and neighbors.

Live music provided by Blackbird will fill the air from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This local duo features strong vocals and beautiful harmonies and has been a favorite of market visitors for many seasons. Our talented musicians span many genres and this year market visitors have enjoyed everything from fiddle tunes, to rock and roll, to classic crooners to traditional Celtic. Some longtime market visitors even bring their

own chairs.

The market provides space and support for a broad range of local community organizations through its Suzanne Arnold Community Booth Program. This week's groups are The Grand Olympics Chorus, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Soroptimist International of Sequim. It is inspiring to learn about what our fellow citizens are doing and the local visitors and out-of-town guests are a perfect audience. We provide the space and atmosphere to encourage a visit and conversation ... don't be afraid to stop by and say hello.

Our vendors set the tone week after week. Their creativity and talent are unmatched and the broad range of handmade items they create and bring each week is complemented by their generous spirits and welcoming smiles.

This is a great time to visit the market as many vendors are having late season sales and specials, including

The Cedar Box whose entire inventory of trellises, benches, cooking planks, boxes and more is 20 percent

off and the market information booth whose selection of tote bags, market posters and T-shirts is 25 percent off through the remainder of the season.

Don't forget the produce! Seven different peninsula farms participate each week and bring a huge bounty of the best-tasting and most beautiful produce you may have seen. The best carrots in the world. Bright red radishes the size of golf balls. Tomatoes of every color. Heirloom potatoes. New varieties of lettuce. Apples and pears. Add local honey, baked goods and handmade cheeses to the mix and you will see why so many have made the Open Aire Market their new "first stop" for food shopping this season.

The Sequim Open Aire Market will be open from

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday on Cedar Street. See www.sequimmarket.com for more information.

Mark Ozias is the Sequim Open Aire Market director.