Vendor Fair Diaries: The Fall Festival Market in Lakeland, Fl
If you know me, you know I love a good vendor fair. There’s just something about wandering from table to table, finding little treasures, and getting to support people who are building something of their own. This one was called the Fall Festival Market, held in Lakeland, Florida at Highlands Church of Christ, and hosted by Babes Doing Business (we found it through their Facebook event page).
First of all: free parking and free admission. Honestly, that’s the sweet spot for me. Nothing is more stressful than having to find a spot in a small, overcrowded lot. Nope! I prefer an easy, low-pressure experience and this was it. The market as a whole was perfect for when you want to find a cute gift for yourself or someone else. It scratches that little dopamine itch without turning into a budget disaster.
The setup was simple and fun. There were food trucks, and the vendors were super flexible with payment. Most accepted cash, card, Venmo, and Cash App. Paying with Venmo in a setting like this was new for me, and I actually loved it. Weirdly, it made me a more conscious spender. Opening the app, typing the amount, and hitting send takes a few extra steps compared to tapping a card. That tiny pause made me think a little more intentionally before buying.
Gift Highlight: The Bookshelf
Another strong highlight was The Bookshelf, a cozy little nook of book-lover merchandise that made my book-nerd heart happy. They had the most adorable wrapped “mystery” books, with only a few words on the front sticker to give you the story’s vibe. (Example: High Spice, Dark Romance, Motorcycle Club. I love it! It’s such a fun idea, and a perfect little treat-yourself purchase. A blind date with a book!
The setup was simple and fun. There were food trucks, and the vendors were super flexible with payment. Most accepted cash, card, Venmo, and Cash App. Paying with Venmo in a setting like this was new for me, and I actually loved it. Weirdly, it made me a more conscious spender. Opening the app, typing the amount, and hitting send takes a few extra steps compared to tapping a card. That tiny pause made me think a little more intentionally before buying.
Food Highlight: Rise & Grind Micro Bakery
One of my favorite stops was Rise & Grind Micro Bakery. They had cookies, sourdough brownies, apple cider donuts, maple pecan scones, and other delicious baked goods. It did not disappoint. 10/10. I actually did another round by this stall and ended up adding more goodies to my bag.
The standout for me was the cinnamon apple sourdough bread. It was genuinely to die for: a great size, fairly priced, and you could tell it was homemade with care.
The Takeaway:
The Fall Festival Market was so cute, definitely the kind of event I’d pop into again: easy, affordable, and full of small businesses worth cheering for. If you ever see Babes Doing Business hosting another market, I’d recommend putting it on your weekend list. You’ll leave with something cute in your bag and that warm fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting someone else’s dream.