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The Manchester Parks and Recreation Department is seeking both local produce vendors as well as local artisans to participate in its upcoming “Manchester Indoor Farmers & Artisan Market” for the upcoming winter season.

The market will be located in a 1,750 square foot climate controlled building completed at the city’s soccer complex completed last May.

“Now we are just trying to recruit vendors,” Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Becki Johnson said. “For wintertime we are expanding it from just locally grown produce to people who are artisans or create and make their stuff.”

Johnson said vendors will have about a 10 foot space within the market, and have access to electricity as well as restroom facilities. There will be no fee for vendors to rent space in the winter market.

“We are waiving the booth fee for the winter market, because at this point in time I just want to get it open and off the ground,” she said.

Johnson said she hopes that be meeting more local vendors she will be able to eventually have enough vendors when the time comes to transition back to a summer farmers market.

Johnson said while she has received a few inquiries about the winter market, she still has room for more.

“I have three so far that I think should pan out,” she said.

Those interested in participating in the winter market as a vendor must fill out an application available by calling Johnson at 931-728-0273 or emailing bjohnson@cityofmanchestertn.com.

“For the winter market I just need to see that you either grow it or make it by hand yourself,” Johnson said. “And even expanding into artisans, that it is not a kit that has been assembled, it has originality.”

Hours for the Manchester Indoor Farmers & Artisan Market are currently set to be 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. each Wednesday, with a goal of starting up sometime in October or November at the latest.

“The hours and the day may evolve over time as I figure out what really works best,” Johnson said. “…If by talking to people I find out a different day or time of day works better we may evolve.”

Johnson said as soon as she has enough vendors, an official start date will be announced.