West Point's First Autumn Market Brings out Hundreds for Fall Fun

Thank you to our friends at the Tidewater Review for this great feature about the Town of West Point's first ever Autumn Market!

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West Point’s first Autumn Market was held Oct. 21 at The Pavilion at Riverwalk Park.

WEST POINT — The Town of West Point declared its first-ever Autumn Market a success and plans to hold more similar events next year.

The market, held at The Pavilion at Riverwalk Park, showcased local produce with a fall flavor.

Just over 225 guests attended the Oct. 21 event, including Timber Hollow Farm, Homeplace Farm, Black Dog Acre Farm, Thistle & Thyme Apothecary, Anonymous Coffee, Just Us Bees, Milby Farm and the Greater West Point Family YMCA.

Thistle & Thyme, as a first-time vendor in West Point, specializes in plant medicine, herbal healing alternatives, skincare and other organic products that are homegrown in King William County. Located just outside West Point, the business sells organically grown produce, canned and baked goods, ornamental corn, pumpkins and honey.

Jars of honey from Milby Farm in Shacklefords were among the items sold at the Autumn Market in West Point on Oct. 21.

“Our vendors featured a large variety of fall produce, baked goods, jams and jellies, flowers, freshly brewed Italian coffee, pumpkins and gourds, honey, pickles, all natural health products and much more,” said town spokeswoman Melissa Anderson.

Apples from Homeplace Farm

The town gave away free canvas trick-or-treat bags for kids to color, as well as goody bags with treats, snacks and water. The Greater West Point Family YMCA provided free face painting to kids.

Shaune Kidd, the membership experience coordinator at the Greater West Point Family YMCA, paints the face of Anderson Drewry, daughter of Sam and Ashleigh Drewry, during West Point’s Autumn Market on Oct. 21.

“It was wonderful to see our community out shopping and enjoying the day — the weather was gorgeous, too,” Anderson said. The town “received great feedback from our vendors regarding the event organization and attendance.”

The town gave away free canvas trick-or-treat bags for kids to color at West Point’s Autumn Market on Oct. 21.

The area has seen an expansion of farmers markets in recent years. A farmers’ market has started operating in the summer in upper King William County to complement the market in West Point.

Anderson said the town is looking for ways to expand and enhance the West Point Farmers Market, which saw some Saturdays with record attendance this season, and hopes to schedule more than one Autumn Market next year. The recent Autumn Market featured several of the town’s core vendors, along with a few new faces.

“We had the best time,” vendor Timber Hollow Farm wrote on the town’s Facebook page. “We are so grateful for the abundance of love and support shown to us … We can’t wait for next year!”

For more photos, visit West Point’s Facebook page or Flickr album.