Farmers Market Costume Contest Adds ‘1976’ Theme For Anniversary

MOSCOW – The Moscow Farmers Market Commission voted unanimously Tuesday on the two questions it will submit for the city’s citizen survey this fall and also on a few tweaks to the annual last-market costume contest. 

Preregistration and shorter hours – 9-11 a. m., with judging 11-noon – will streamline the contest, which will fall on Oct. 31 this year.  “Halloween” has been dropped from the name, since not everyone observes that holiday. A special themed category to highlight 1976 will be added in honor of the market’s 50^th anniversary. 

The commission agreed that at least one point will be given by judges, rather than no points, for overused themes – “like Spiderman” – and prepackaged costumes – “since they may have come from a thrift store, and we encourage reuse and upcycling,” said Amanda Argona, Moscow community events manager and the city’s liaison to the commission.

Entries deserve one point at least for the effort to participate, commissioners agreed.

One of the board’s questions for the random citizen survey will ask about the importance of encouraging reusable, recyclable packaging at the market. The second question will ask why shoppers limit their market attendance – things like affordability, transportation, poor air quality from wildfire smoke, etc. 

Argona also reminded commissioners to vote in the annual America’s Farmers Market contest, which continues through September. The top 10 markets win money, including $2,500 for first place. 

Moscow has more than 400 votes, which places the market first in the state and Pacific Northwest, but typically gets about 800 votes by the end of the contest, Argona said. She would like that to escalate to 1,976 votes to honor the market’s beginning in this 50^th anniversary year, she said.

Votes may be cast online at the bottom of the page at https://markets.farmland.org/markets/314048

The next regular meeting of the Moscow Farmers Market will be Oct. 6.