The Ōpōtiki Community Market is returning for another summer season on Saturday, bringing locally made goods, fresh produce and homemade treats back to Rawinia Rangi Reserve.

Joint organisers Julie Moody and Sarah Sparrow are looking forward to welcoming shoppers and stallholders back to the popular community market, which will run monthly from October through to March.

“We are really looking forward to the summer markets starting again and we have quite a few new stallholders,” Moody said.

Markets are usually held on the fourth Saturday of each month, but this month’s opening market has been brought forward a week because of the public holiday.

Moody said the reserve was an ideal venue, with space for children to play while parents browse the stalls.

The market’s key requirement is that everything sold must be locally produced or made, helping showcase the creativity and talents of local growers, makers and small businesses.

There will be plenty to explore this Saturday, with new stallholders joining regular favourites. Visitors can expect coffee from BrewSandViews, freshly baked scones, sweet and savoury treats, preserves, honey, jewellery, plants, poi and more.

The market will run from 8.30am to 12.30pm at Rawinia Rangi Reserve, on the corner of Ford and Church streets.

Shoppers are encouraged to come along, support stallholders and enjoy the relaxed community atmosphere as the summer market season gets under way.