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Cobden – The final stop of the Taste of the Valley markets was held here Saturday and once again it proved to be the largest and most popular event in the series hosted by the Renfrew County Economic Development Department.
The beautiful sunshine and balmy temperatures resulted in a record attendance in terms of both visitors and vendors for the five hour long event that ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Our estimate is attendance was 5,500 people for the day,” Economic Development Co-ordinator, Scott Hamilton said. “We only started doing a more accurate tracking the last few years, but since we recorded the numbers, that is the higher one.
“And we had a record number of vendors in attendance,” he added. “We had 140 vendors, which is a record.”
Mr. Hamilton said between that and the great weather, it made for an absolutely perfect event.
“It turned into a wonderful day for people to come out,” he remarked.
He said vendors were extremely happy with the results of the day, noting there were more than 12 selling hot food, and some sold out.
“People were buying, which is what we like to see. It’s one thing for people to come out, but Taste of the Valley is about supporting these vendors and these local Renfrew County businesses and help them put some money in their pockets and expand their own portfolio and their products.”
He said the county takes into consideration the larger crowds that attend Cobden, so they see that the area includes more space for people to move around, a restructuring of the vendors, parking, and a new accessible parking lot.
“We also had an accessibility drop-off point by the main gate for persons with mobility issues, and then you could park in the designated area,” he said. “We had a more accessible area at the back of the grounds which was flatter than the field area.”
Mr. Hamilton noted they also had a special visitor that day, Groot, a character from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy, who arrived quite unexpectedly and was busy walking through the crowd.
“That one was a surprise,” he explained. “A gentleman approached us during the market and said he had come to do some shopping.
“He asked us if we would be okay with him putting on his costume and walking around as he has done before,” he added. “He’s an Ottawa resident who does that for Comic-Con and things like that and he had the costume with him, and it made for quite a bit of entertainment and some cute pictures.”
Mr. Hamilton stressed the success of any Taste of the Valley event comes from the partnership between the county, the host municipality and other organizations.
“I want to give a huge shout out for the support we get . . . this is a Renfrew County initiative, but it could not be even possible without the partnership of the local municipality.
“Whitewater Region played a huge part in the success of Cobden, the staff was on hand all day helping with parking, garbage, picnic tables, and were wonderful supports to this event,” he added.
He paid thanks to the Cobden Agricultural Society, which allowed the use of the grounds for accessibility parking, the Cobden Civitan Club which helped with parking, the Cobden Farmers Market, and the First Cobden Cubs and Scouts who greeted people as they entered at the side gate.
“It’s not a single person show,” he stated. “An event this large is done with a team.”