It’s been a near sleepless summer for Laurie Adelmann as she gears up for the first ever Front Street Market event in Rollinsford. Adelmann has been soliciting area growers, artists and performers to provide food and entertainment at the Salmon Falls Mills every weekend through the summer. Front Street Market will first present its Sunday at Salmon Falls series on July 20.
“We’ve had so many people interested in this. It’s marvelous,” Adelmann said. “It’s a morning out for the whole family.”

Beginning at 9 a.m., local food producers will open shop in the parking lot in front of the upper mill building. Breakfast and lunch optoins will be grilled under a circius tent running parallel to the street. A temporary stage will be erected in the same lot, offering music, dancing and other live entertainment until about 3 p.m.
Many artists with studios at the mills will sell artwork, fine crafts and photography, and a raffle will raise money for local charities.

The Rollinsford Fire Department will have a fire truck on hand, allowing kids to climb onboard and even push some buttons. Kids can also partake in face-painting and children’s crafts, and there will be storytelling in Rollinsford Public Library.

A native of Kennebunkport, Maine, Adelmann is a children’s artist who spends her summers in southern Florida with her husband, Arpad. The couple participates in a street market every winter in Florida and decided Rollinsford would benefit from a similar event at the mills on Front Street. They helped form the non-profit Front Street Market Association, which is focused on building community and supporting businesses in Rollinsford.

Adelmann said she views the market as a way for resident artists and area growers to give back to the town. Each week, a different charity will benefit from the proceeds, while vendors at the market will keep their earnings. “The community has accepted us, now it’s time for us to give back,” she said.

During the first event on July 20, proceeds will benefit Rollinsford Public Library, which opened last year in the lower mill building. The market will raffle off items donated from artists to raise money for the new facility. Raffle tickets will be sold in a hospitality tent at a price of $1 for two tickets. The second market, on July 27, will raise money for the Rollinsford Fire Department, Adelmann said. Future beneficiaries have not been finalized.

Sales of T-shirts, sweatshirts, coats and other items emblazoned with the Front Street Market logo will also benefit the weekly charity. The logo was designed by local photographer Ron St. Jean.

Folk musician David Graf will sing and play guitar during the first market. A high school band from South Berwick called November 42nd will also take the stage. In addition to offering produce from local growers, four local businesses will have meals for sale: Black Bean Café, Figtree Café, Salmon Falls Deli and Mayo’s Family Restaurant. Future events could include demonstrations of African drumming, karate and belly dancing.     

Adelmann noted that demand for locally produced food is on the rise. She has personally used local ingredients throughout her life and wants fresh, local food to be available to residents. “I grew up in Kennebunkport and to this day we grow all of our own vegetables,” she said. 

Weather permitting, the market will take place every Sunday through mid-October. Parking and admission is free. The market’s sponsor is Cognivation, a software company in Rollinsford. Adelmann is still looking for businesses and artists interested in participating, and she invites people to contact the market at 603-742-2228.