French Market Closes First Successful Year This Saturday

New Lenox's new and improved farmers market closes after this Saturday, and the village is happy things went a lot better than last year.

Last year, the New Lenox farmers market , in part because the previous operator told his clients not to return, according to those who participated.

There was a noticeable difference this year, with about 15 vendors a week with French Market running the show.

"We kept a lot of favorite vendors and introduce new vendors to it," village trustee Annette Bowden said. "They have been very receptive to the New Lenox  community and compliment me on how much they enjoy being here."

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The village has also drawn more visitors to the French Marketwith events such as free IDs for children. This weekend, there's a free . Kids through sixth grade are encouraged to decorate a pumpkin before 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, and bring it to the French Market, which opens at 8 a.m. in the south parking lot of . 

Although things were vastly improved this year, Bowden said there's more room to grow. The village has a three-year deal with the French Market and can fit at least twice as many vendors as it did many days this year.

"We need some time to grow and expand, but this year I didn't get any negative feedback like in years past," she said.

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