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October 10 is getting closer, y'all!
Somehow, we are already just SIX WEEKS away from the next Y'allternative Market on Main in Dows, Iowa!
If you've been following along since our first market, you know that Hayley and Shannon have been having way too much fun putting these markets together. And if you're new around here...welcome! We're glad you're here. Get up to speed on your cohosts by reading THIS BLOG POST.
With only six weeks to go, we thought it was time to officially start the countdown!
So...What's Happening on October 10?
The Y'allternative Market on Main will be back at the Dows Community Building on Saturday, October 10, from 10 AM–2 PM.
And we're already shaping up to have another great group of makers, artists, vintage sellers, small businesses, bakers, and other creative folks joining us.
Right now, we're sitting at around 30 vendors!
And here's something we're especially excited about:
We only have room for a few more.
After having more vendors interested in our last market than we actually had room for, we decided it was time to make a few changes.
More variety. More room to shop. More things to discover.
One of those changes is that we're limiting the number of vendors selling the exact same type of product.
In other words, we're not going to have six different booths selling the same thing.
We're trying to keep it to one of each kind whenever possible.
Why?
Because we want our vendors to have a great experience and we want shoppers to have plenty of different things to discover.
And let's be honest...
You don't need six booths selling the same thing.
You need six completely different things you didn't know you needed!!!
Some Old Favorites Are Coming Back!
One of the best parts of doing these markets is getting to see vendors come back.
We've got some familiar faces returning for October, which means you may get to visit some of your favorite vendors from our previous markets.
But we're also bringing in some new vendors, so there's going to be plenty of new stuff to see, too.
That's one of the things we love about the Y'allternative Market.
You never quite know what you're going to find.
And that's intentional.
We want this to be the kind of market where you can walk in thinking, "I'm just going to look around," and walk out carrying something you absolutely did not plan on buying.
And YES...There Will Be Food!
We learned a few things from our last market.
One of those things was:
People like tacos.
Our friends at Taco Shack are coming back, and Nice Beans Coffee will be returning, too!
But we're adding some new food options this time around.
We're excited to welcome:
Taco Shack (Watch our Taco Shack vendor spotlight HERE!)
Nice Beans Coffee-Click here for a sneak peek!
Janie's Heart Attack Shack.....Stay tuned for more information!!
The Main Scoop: A local favorite!
So whether you need coffee when you arrive, lunch while you're shopping, or something sweet before you head home...
We've got you covered.
And after the line at our last market, we're hoping we've learned our lesson about having enough food!
(Although I'm not making any promises that there won't be a line for tacos. It's tacos!)
But Why "Y'allternative"?
That's a question we've gotten a few times.
And honestly, that's part of the fun.
The Y'allternative Market is our slightly different take on a traditional handmade market.
It's handmade.
It's creative.
It's local.
It's a little bit vintage.
It's a little bit boho.
It's a little bit country.
It's a little bit weird.
And it's completely about supporting small businesses and the creative people behind them. Read THIS BLOG POST for even more info.
Basically...
It's for people who like their handmade markets with a little personality.
Why Dows?
We're doing all of this right here in Dows, Iowa, because we believe small towns deserve big ideas, too.
We're a small community.
And, like many rural towns, we've watched businesses come and go over the years.
But we also know that there's still something special about gathering people together.
A market gives people a reason to come to town.
It gives makers a place to share what they've created.
It gives shoppers a chance to discover something they can't find at a big-box store.
And maybe most importantly...
It gives people a chance to see each other.
To run into an old friend.
To meet someone new.
To have a conversation.
To eat something good.
To wander around a little downtown in rural Iowa and remember that there's still plenty of life here.
That's what we're hoping the Y'allternative Market becomes.
Not just a shopping event.
A reason to gather.
Six Weeks. Let's Do This!
So if you haven't already, mark your calendar!
Y'allternative Market on Main
Saturday, October 10, 2026
10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Dows Community Building
Dows, Iowa
We'll have around 30 vendors, with a few more spaces still available.
You'll find handmade goods, art, vintage treasures, creative small businesses, food, coffee, sweet treats, and plenty of things you probably didn't know you needed until you saw them.
We've got old favorites coming back.
We've got new vendors joining us.
We've got new food options.
And we've got six weeks to get everything ready!
Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing vendor spotlights, food announcements, behind-the-scenes peeks, market updates, and more as we get closer to October 10.
So follow along, tell your friends, and start making plans.
Grab your shopping buddy.
Bring your reusable bags.
Come hungry.
And maybe leave a little room in the car.
Because you never know what you're going to find at the Y'allternative Market on Main..
We'll see you in Dows on October 10!
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