50th Anniversary of Keeping the Market Celebration
It's been 50 years since the Seattle community rallied to save Pike Place Market from demolition and launched the “Let’s Keep the Market” initiative. Celebrate the milestone with commemorative gifts, craft demos, market history tours, live mural painting, and other activities throughout Pike Place.
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Event: |
50th Anniversary of Keeping the Market Celebration |
Time: |
10:00 am - 4:00 pm |
Venue: |
Marketwide |
Price: |
FREE |
Join Pike Place Market, Friends of the Market and Pike Place Market Foundation as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Citizens’ Initiative to Keep the Market! Enjoy a variety of Market activities that celebrate the Market we all love today, including special commemorative gifts, craft demonstrations, one-of-a-kind shopping and more!
History of the 50th Celebration:
50 years ago, Pike Place Market was saved by Seattle citizens who voted to keep the Market. This year we are celebrating!
We all know the Market today as the Soul of Seattle, a place to shop local and Meet the Producer. It is a 9-acre historic district of one-of-a-kind shops, iconic landmarks, housing, social services and an essential establishment for our locals. It’s hard to imagine the Market not being here, but 50 years ago we almost lost it to a wrecking ball.
In the early 1960s, the Market was a target for urban renewal and extensive demolition. In 1964 the Friends of the Market organization was established to advocate for preserving the Market and protecting it from being destroyed. The Friends undertook a city-wide campaign to “Keep the Market.”
Through the grassroots efforts of Seattle citizen advocates, the “Let’s Keep the Market” initiative was mounted on November 2, 1971, the Seattle community voted to save the Market. This initiative preserved the largest continuously operating public market in the nation and protected not only the Market complex but a community of farmers, small independent businesses, and low-income and elderly residents.
Now 50 years later, we are celebrating our Market and the remarkable community that kept the Market alive and those who keep it strong today. Come enjoy your Market with us by Making it a Market Day and join us in the celebration.
Don't forget to download the Market's free digital book filled with Market stories, historic images and information on how the Market operates.
Celebration Activities:
Pin the Tale on the Market - Participate in a treasure hunt to collect commemorative enamel pins & a chance to win Delta Air Lines tickets.
Market History Tours - Join the Friends of the Market on a free tour to learn more about the Market. Learn more.
Special Shopping Offer* - Spend $50 in the Market to receive a special 50th Anniversary Commemorative Shopping Bag.
Interactive Virtual Pop Up Murals - Market artists, Kate Endle and Mallory Milke, created two unique murals that celebrate our Market. These aren’t your regular murals, they are an interactive augmented reality experience. Watch the murals come to life on your phone, then share on Instagram and Facebook! Learn more.
Batman Sightings - Visit Golden Age Collectables, world's oldest comicbook store, from 1pm - 3pm to see Batman and pickup a free Batman comicbook!
Live Music - Market buskers will be performing throughout the event on our iconic Farm Truck
Cooking Demos - Market farmers, Windy Acre Farm will host several cooking demos on the MarketFront Pavilion.
Live Mural Painting - Watch as Market artist, Rosie Ferne creates a mural with a special twist on historic images of citizens advocating for the Market 50 years ago.
Labor of Love: Saving Pike Place Market documentary screenings at Unexpected Productions' Market Theater (masks and proof of vaccination required)