‘Love where you live’ – Market Days kicks off 51st annual festival
Published: 06-26-2025 4:11 PM
Modified: 06-26-2025 10:01 PM |
Lindsay Frappier has strolled down Main Street on Market Days for years with her husband and their dog, stopping at different stalls, chatting with vendors and, most of all, reveling in the abundance of food to try.
This year, though, was different.
Oscillating between nerves and excitement, she arrived downtown with her husband and father-in-law at 7:45 on Thursday morning to set up the booth for her new business, Whisper & Glow Candles.
“It’s really fun to be on Main Street, especially where I’m new and just seeing these more experienced vendors, just getting to network and socialize and work with them,” Frappier said.
Concord’s 51st annual Market Days brought together over 150 vendors along the streets of downtown, where thousands of people flocked on Thursday for the food, drinks, art, clothing, jewelry, live music and good weather. Hosted by InTown Concord, the three-day festival running through Saturday provides, for many, a chance to celebrate the city of Concord and all those who live in it. This year’s theme, by no coincidence, is “Love Where You Live.”
The heat from earlier in the week finally lifted on opening day and the rain mostly held off. Main Street was crawling with visitors by mid-morning.
Frappier said she loves seeing everyone out and about.The longtime Concord resident works as an accountant by day and began dabbling in candle-making last year before deciding to start a business.
“I really felt like I needed to exercise a creative part of my brain, and I love candles,” said Frappier, who makes all her candles at home. “I figured, I’m buying them all the time. Why don’t I just try my hand at making them? And I fell in love with it.”
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She began selling her creations – whose wooden wicks make a whispering sound when they burn – at various outdoor markets earlier this year. This weekend marks her candle-making debut in Concord and her largest market of customers to date.
“It’s different being on this side of it,” she said. “You’re looking around. You’re seeing what people are interested in. You hope they’re interested in your product. Everyone just looks like they’re having fun.”
Across downtown on Thursday, couples strolled hand-in-hand, stopping to pet dogs and look at different goods for sale. Children jumped on the bouncy house in front of the State House and drew on the sidewalks with chalk. The aromas of food from international cultures mingled in the air as music from the three live stages echoed down the street.
Noelle Mulligan of Center Harbor has become a Market Days regular, primarily to meet her niece, who lives in Concord. Their tradition began accidentally when their lunch plans coincided with the street festival a few years back.
“We don’t have anything like this in Center Harbor,” she said. “This is just so New Hampshire. It’s so pleasant to be around all these people. I’m having a great time.”
Another aunt-niece pair, Charleen Nikias and Sandi Ryan, have made Market Days their annual tradition. Ryan owns Sandi’s Concessions, based in Candia, and has sold lemonade alongside her aunt at the street festival for years.
“There’s no better feeling,” said Ryan, who has seen the festival grow larger in the three decades she’s been participating. “Once we went through COVID and we lost that personal interaction, there’s no better feeling than being outside here in the fresh air with the customers.”
Nikias said she loves working with her niece and always looks forward to spending Market Days together.
“It’s a huge community for three days. For three days, you’re all one,” Nikias said.
Volunteers Jim Figueira and Nick Roy got to Main Street as the sun was rising to help set up.
“I think it’s important to bring the community together. People get to meet their neighbors and feel like they’re part of something,” said Roy, who will soon be moving to Concord from Merrimack. “It’s a good vibe. I think that’s important for a healthy community.”
Figueira has lived in Concord for 15 years and volunteered at Market Days for half a decade.
“When we moved to Concord, it felt like home,” he said. “I have two kids who grew up here. It feels right. I tell everyone they should move here.”
For artist and leader of the Concord Arts Market Jessica Livingston, Market Days provide an opportunity to showcase local creators and help the artists she works with build their following. Over four dozen Arts Market vendors lined Pleasant Street with their stalls, each one offering a window into their craft.
“This is the epitome of the Concord community,” said Livingston, gesturing to the Market Days tents around her. “It’s just beautiful.”
Jessica Martin, festival organizer and executive director of InTown Concord, said the music is always a highlight of Market Days for her. This year, the team added a children’s stage, located in Eagle Square.
“I don’t know of many free festivals where you can have three stages of live music for all three days. There’s pretty much something all the time. It’s really cool,” said Martin.
By her candle stall, Frappier said she loves Main Street and one day dreams of having her own storefront downtown. For this weekend, though, she already feels like her dream is becoming a reality.
“I feel a great sense of community right now,” Frappier said. “It’s really nice to see people walking around their community and just being happy and supporting local businesses.”
For more information, visit www.marketdaysfestival.com. On Friday, lovebirds Cady Hickman and Cameron Green will celebrate their union with a Market Days marriage ceremony at 5 p.m., followed by a parade down Main Street and their first dance at the Main Stage. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Saturday.
Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com