Paris Street Market draws crowds to bustling downtown promenade

Making the most of a bridal shower weekend in Paris, Tina Gary, Anita Barnes, Zoe Barnes, bride-to-be Skye Barnes, Jessie Gardiner and Cassandra McIsaac travelled from the Barrie area and were pleasantly surprised to discover the lively Paris Street Market on the promenade. The group said the vibrant downtown atmosphere made their weekend getaway even more memorable. They’re pictured entering one of Paris’ most iconic shops with deep history in town– John M. Hall. (See history of the building on page 9)

Emma Bowman

Paris Independent Contributor

The heart of downtown Paris was buzzing with energy on Saturday, July 11, as hundreds of residents and visitors filled the promenade for the Paris Street Market. Laughter, conversation and live activity echoed through the streets as people strolled between more than 40 vendors, explored local shops and enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere. Hosted by The Rustic Palm, the event transformed the construction zone into a lively community gathering, proving once again that downtown Paris remains open for business and well worth a visit. From local or regional areas like St. Catherines, London, Waterloo, or further east there was no shortage of one-of-a-kind goods. Artisan talents were displayed through printed linens, handmade keepsakes and jewelry, wood carvings, paintings and natural apothecary products. Wandering through the stalls, there was no end to discovery.

Despite warm temperatures, the streets and market sparked a crowd. Paris locals were impressed at the large turnout and happy to see the local businesses downtown filled with customers and visitors passing through. 

Many visitors said the trip to Paris was well worth the drive. One group of women from north of Toronto, in town for a bridal shower weekend, stumbled upon the bustling street market while staying at the Mulberry House on Curtis Avenue. With accommodations overlooking the picturesque Grand River, they were delighted to discover a vibrant downtown filled with shoppers, local businesses and a full-scale market stretching along the promenade.

The bride, Skye, was blown away by the gratitude and warm welcome she received downtown, especially at the Gem. She shared a bit of her experience in the Prettiest (and friendlieset) town in Canada. "When she saw our sashes, she called me over and asked Tina to reach up and pick up the little mouse bride. She took the price tag off, asked me about the wedding and wished me well on the day and into our marriage," explained Skye. "She laughed and said, 'Hopefully you actually like it, I didn’t even ask.' I smiled and shared she would fit in with all our other mice on our Christmas tree. Dawn replied, "Well, it can’t go home without its groom," and asked Tina to bring him over too. I offered to pay for the mouse bride and groom. She smiled, "I’m retiring, I can do this," and again wished us well in our marriage. Meeting Dawn and sharing this moment was a highlight of my weekend. I can only imagine the amount of kindness the world is lucky to hold because of Dawn.

The summer schedule on the promenade is just getting started. Throughout July, visitors can enjoy recurring weekly events, including live local music, Adult Recess and Wellness Wednesdays, bringing something new downtown each week. The next major market event will be the Paris Vintage Fest, hosted by Le Petit Marché, on Aug. 8. A full schedule of promenade events is available at www.brant.ca/ParisPromenade