Events

Event Preview: Junk Market Q&A With Maria Bosak

Junk Market

From crisp air to hot apple cider, there’s so much to love about fall, including Junk Market. We sat down with event founder, Maria Bosak of Eco Chic Boutique to find out what to expect this year.

Photos by Morgan Schleif / headshot by Hillary Ehlen

From crisp air to hot apple cider, there’s so much to love about fall, including Junk Market. We sat down with event founder, Maria Bosak of Eco Chic Boutique to find out what to expect this year. We’ll give you a hint: you and your kids just might meet a few four-legged friends.

Maria Bosak

Q: Where will the event be held?

A: We’re back out at the fairgrounds. We heard that people wanted to be back at the fairgrounds because they feel like it has more of a festive feel out there. We’ll be on the south side, but you’ll come in the main entrance and you can’t miss us.

Junk Market

Junk Market

Q: How will this event be different from previous Junk Markets?

A: This time, it’s three days.

Sunday is when we’re going to have a special family day. Kids are always free, but Sunday is when you’ll want to bring them. We’re going to have jumpy games and a petting zoo. Camp Bosak is what we call it.

Junk Market

The early bird shopping on Friday night is also something we haven’t done before. Usually, early bird was Saturday morning. Now it’s Friday night for two hours so you can have a whole evening to yourself. You need a special ticket for that and you can buy it online or at the gate.

We’re also doing something new where if you’re a teacher, you can come to Eco Chic Boutique to get a free ticket.

Q: What inspired these changes?

A: We just really value families. We want it to be something where not only can a mom can get out and do some
shopping, but the whole family can come. Maybe dad has a beer. We really want it to be a family event.

We also value teachers. We think that teachers are fantastic. They’ll be back in school at this point. They’ll have taught for a few weeks, so we want them to come into Eco Chic and get a free ticket.

Junk Market

Q: What kind of vendors will be there?

A: There will be 100+ booths with indoor and outdoor vendors from all over the Midwest. We’ve got everything from repurposed to antique, salvaged, vintage and handmade along with great shopping and great food. We also have a pumpkin vendor that comes out every year.

Junk Market

Q: How are you getting ready for Junk Market this time around?

A: I’m blessed with a great staff that works really hard. This is our 12th event. There’s a lot of work that goes into it, but now that we’ve done it 12 times, it feels easier than the first couple of times. It used to stress me out. I would lay awake for nights on end leading up to the event, but it gets easier the more we’ve done it.

We try to reach out to find as many great vendors as we can. We try to add new things. It’s a labor of love. We really do love putting on this event for Fargo-Moorhead, and we want to continue to grow it.

Junk Market

Q: What will you be doing on the day of Junk Market?

A: I wander around. I have tried to place myself in one particular spot
numerous times, and it doesn’t work because something always happens so I have to go here or there. Sometimes you’ll see me at the ticket booth, sometimes working the Eco Chic booth. I try to help out wherever I’m needed. My husband and I spend an hour at each event walking around and checking in with the vendors, so I do get time to enjoy it.

Junk Market

Q: What challenges do you anticipate on the day of Junk Market?

A: Every event has its own challenges, but you learn to deal with whatever comes your way. You just learn to roll with the punches. Living in North
Dakota, you always wonder what the weather will do. That’s the one thing that we can’t control, but the outdoor vendors have tents so the event will go on, rain or shine.

Junk Market

Q: What are you looking forward to the most this time?

A: My husband and I love animals, so I’m excited to have the petting zoo there. It sounds silly, but we really love the petting zoo. The other thing is that in the past, we have said no dogs, but now I feel like we’re in an environment where we can have pets. We would love to see families come out with their animals.

Junk Market

Junk Market

Junk Market

Junk Market

Junk Market

Junk Market

Junk Market

Junk Market

The 2017 Fall Junk Market will take place Sept. 22-24 at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds.
For more information, visit FargoJunkMarket.com

 

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