Whittier Square fills with diverse art and textiles, Latin music, vibrant colors and local flare 12 Saturdays a year for the open-art market dubbed Mercado.
Kendall Whittier Mercado, a twice-a-month multi-cultural outdoor artisan market, provides authentic merchandise to customers and supports local entrepreneurs. To add even more fun, it kicks off each time with free Zumba.
In Whittier Square at the corner of Admiral and Lewis, Mercado runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first and third Saturday’s of the month from May through October. Free Zumba starts at 10 a.m. and runs about one hour.
“Mercado was started three years ago as a way to celebrate and highlight the Hispanic culture that makes our neighborhood so vibrant and the cultural diversity that makes our city so wonderful,” said Jessica Jackson, director of Kendall Whittier Main Street, the event’s host.
While many vendors showcase wares from south of the border, past years have seen vendors selling African pottery, Native American jewelry, and arts and crafts from various cultures.
“It’s a unique shopping experience that truly crosses cultural boundaries,” Jackson said.
Free Zumba just offers one more experience to folks attending Mercado. Blanca Sandoval’s Zumba class is great for beginners and more experienced dancers alike. Participants can plan to join the whole time or just for a little bit.
Dates for 2019 are May 4 and 18, June 1 and 15, July 6 and 20, August 3 and 17, September 7 and 21 and October 5 and 19. Mercado is sponsored by Fowler Automotive.
Vendor space for the remainder of the season is still available. Authentic expressions of art and craft spanning all cultures are welcome at Kendall Whittier Mercado. A vendor fee of $25 per week is due prior to setting up. Applications in both English and Spanish are available online here.
For more information about the Kendall Whittier Mercado, English speakers should call or text Jessica Jackson at 918-633-1934 or email info@visitkendallwhittier.com, and Spanish speakers should call or text Monica Poblete at 918-282-9867.
Kendall Whittier Main Street is a nonprofit organization that inspires the ongoing revitalization and growth of a historic and cultural neighborhood in Tulsa, striving to transform it back to a thriving, walkable commercial district. Kendall Whittier is a Certified Cultural District.
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