On April 9th, the Thursday Night Market started, providing an exciting opportunity for many around Chico to experience, including Pleasant Valley High School Students. The market consists of all sorts of vendors, such as a lot of local farmers, but also smaller clothing businesses, etc. The items for sale looked beautiful, and every PVHS student should go to the market sometime while it’s operating this year. Not only is it a great place to hang out with friends, but the wonderful locally-grown food is to die for. The sunset, live music, downtown ambiance, and feeling of local community all created a breath-taking and beautiful scene. For more information on the importance of the Thursday Night Market for local farmers and the community, Ms. Montgomery, a history teacher who owns farm land, was asked about it.
Ms. Montgomery says that the market allows “local people to sell things that they’re growing,“ and for “smaller lesser-known businesses to pop-up”. She additionally notes that the market promotes “healthy organic produce which is really important these days”. Ms. Montgomery excellently paints the importance and usefulness of the Thursday Night Market, that supporting local businesses is good for both sides. The Thursday Night Market is important because it allows for more awareness of products that aren’t marketed widely, and makes so much more discoverable. Best of all, everything here is local and you can directly see what you’re supporting. And, as Ms. Montgomery said, it allows for good healthy food to be disseminated where it might have not been before. Plus, the Thursday Night Market is just plain fun for all parties involved. PVHS student Eliza Forte, a junior, said that their favorite thing to look forward to in the market is “hanging out with friends and candy covered almonds”. They also mentioned how hot it was last year when they went, so be sure to bring sunscreen. Their feelings resonate with a lot of students, how it serves as a fun way to hang out with friends and eat food. Overall, it seems the market allows for friendships to grow and for hungry appetites to be satiated by great local food.
When at the market, students can also meet others and talk to them about similar interests. Ms. Wilkinson, a chemistry teacher, notes that her favorite memories of the Thursday Night Market are “seeing everybody. You know, everyone has a lot of different styles so it’s fun seeing everyone’s personalities,” adding that “if you’re able to visit some of the food trucks they’re fun”. If the opportunity arrises, going to the Thursday Night Market with a couple of friends is a surefire to have fun. For example, getting some great burritos from a food truck or wandering around and looking at all the beautiful murals…while also eating a burrito.
In short, the Thursday Night Market is an event iconic to not just PVHS or Chico, but to all of Butte County. People are able to widely support local farmers and get wonderful fresh produce. As the season solidly shifts into spring, the market is a nice reminder of NorCal spirit and friendliness. And while not everyone wants to go, the Thursday Night Market should be checked out for all it has to offer. It has been going on for 29 years now, and there’s a good reason. The Thursday Night Market demonstrates what Butte County is all about.
