La Jolla Elementary School closes down its blacktop every Sunday morning to let local families play at the weekly Open Aire Market. But on Oct. 21, the market will present the ninth annual Harvest Festival with fall festivities for the whole family.
Each Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m., Friends of La Jolla Elementary host a weekly farmer’s market until 1 p.m., filled with certified farmers who sell their fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers at booths. Along with the farmers, artisans from around the world display their jewelry and crafts. The atmosphere is enhanced with local music talent and vendors who set up a food court with treats such as KettleKorn.
“It’s wonderful,” said Susie Payne, secretary of La Jolla Elementary School. “Tons of La Jolla residents go, and it funds our music teacher, arts teacher and librarian.”
Nine years ago, the market started with only 14 booths, but now more than 100 vendors are selling their goods, said Sherry Berman Ahern, founder of the Open Aire Market.
“There’s so much to do here,” Ahern said. “We have outdoor teak furniture ” things all the way from India and Belize and even from Morocco. We have fabulous rugs and pashminas.”
This weekend the market will celebrate its anniversary with the Harvest Festival. Local band The Corvelles will entertain.
“We will have a live band, but we will also have kids who are going to be singing choral music,” Ahern said.
In addition to the band, the festival will feature crafts for the kids, including pumpkin painting and a cakewalk.
“We are going to give the pumpkins away, so the kids can come and paint them,” Ahern said.
The market’s net proceeds, which go directly to the school, have contributed to computers, a school nurse, a full-time librarian and other benefits for La Jolla Elementary School, Ahern said
“We have given over $200,000 in computers,” Ahern said. “Otherwise the kids would have none.”
The La Jolla Open Aire Market takes place every Sunday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the upper playground of La Jolla Elementary School, on the corner of Genter and Girard streets.
For information, call (858) 454-1699.