Are you a lover of live music, food, and wine? Well, you're in luck! The Music at the Market event series, organized by the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Parks Department, is back for its 13th season in 2024. 

This free event series takes place on the second Thursday of every month from May until October. Each event features a local band, food vendor, and winery. You can come and enjoy the music while sipping on some delicious wine and indulging in some tasty food. Plus, there are benches and picnic tables available, but don't forget to bring your lawn chairs to sit back and relax.

Here is the schedule of events:

• May 9: Garden Party featuring Sugarfire Smokehouse and Stone Hill Winery. Bartender: Guild Mortgage
• June 13: Rockin’ Lazy R Roadhouse Band featuring Fazoli’s and McKelvey Vineyards. Bartender: Citizens Bank
• July 11: Dixie Union featuring Mosaic Café and Catering and White Mule Winery. Bartender: Bank of Washington
• September 12: Geenahwind featuring Tilted Skillet and Augusta Winery. Bartender: Janie Schriewer & Associations – Re/Max Results
• October 10: Big Daddy Rooster featuring Pasta House. Bartender: Bank of Franklin County

 The Chamber is also hosting a Cajun Festival on Friday, June 21. This free event features live music from Dennis Stroughmatt with Creole Stomp. You can indulge in some mouth-watering food and drinks available for purchase while listening to some great music. Don't forget to bring your lawn chairs to sit back and enjoy the festivities.

Please note that the Market is a designated festival zone for the Cajun Festival and Music at the Market events. Pets and coolers are not permitted. So, mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy some great music, delicious food, and wine at the Music at the Market event series and the Cajun Festival.

On Monday, October 3,  just over 200 people gathered at the annual Member Luncheon to recognize the Outstanding Young Professionals Class of 2022.  The event was held at the KC Hall in Washington.  Tables were decorated with centerpieces provided by Hillermann Nursery & Florist and advance copies of the OYP special section from The Missourian.  Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal from the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and time to network and mingle before the awards program.
Thank you to everyone that attended our event, and a special thanks to our sponsors (listed below), and to the businesses and individuals that made nominations for our awards!  Our next membership event will be the Winter Mixer on Thursday, December 8.  We also have three community events coming up:  Music at the Market (Oct. 13), Pumpkin Palooza (Oct. 29), and Olde Fashioned Christmas (Nov. 27).

After cancellations in previous years for weather and COVID, Pumpkin Palooza will return for 2021!  The free Halloween event will be held Saturday, October 30, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Main Street between Elm & Pine.  The Farmers’ Market will open at regular time (8:00 a.m.) and remain open for the duration of the event.  In addition to favorites like the downtown merchant candy crawl, activity booths, pumpkin roll, costume contest, ghost hunt, and giant pumpkin weigh-in, 2021 brings the return of the Baking Contests, plus BINGO and a Cake/Treat Walk.  Other entertainment includes Story Time, a performance from Babaloo, interactive Safety Town, Pony Rides, and Monkey Bus.  

More information, as well as registration forms and a complete schedule of events, can be found at www.washmochamber.org/pumpkin or on the “Pumpkin Palooza (2021)” Facebook Event.  For additional questions, please contact the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce at (636) 239-2715 or e-mail [email protected].  

On-site Registration Only:
Pumpkin Roll (register by 11:45 a.m.)
Pumpkin Decorating / Ugliest Pumpkin / Ugliest Gourd  (register by 2:00 p.m.)

Pre-Registration Encouraged:
Baking Contests
Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In

No Registration Required:
Farmers’ Market Cake/Treat Walk
Ghost Hunt
BINGO
Costume Contest

​The Washington Farmers’ Market will host its annual “Craft & Gift Expo” on Saturday, November 20 at the Washington Knights of Columbus Hall.  The one-day event will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.  The expo will feature over 60 booths, including vendors from the Washington Farmers’ Market, as well as other local businesses, direct sales companies, and craft/gift sellers.  There is no admission charge for the event.  Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Interested vendors should register online at www.washmomarket.com/expo.  Questions can be directed to Amanda at the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce (636-239-2715 x106, [email protected]).  More information on the Washington Farmers’ Market and the Craft & Gift Expo can be found at www.washmomarket.com.  

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More Info on the Banquet:

• Date:  Saturday, April 10
• Time: 6:00 p.m. Cocktails, 7:00 p.m. Dinner
• Tickets:  $50/person
• ​RSVP to: Cheryl (636-239-2715 x102)

Would you like to support any of these events through sponsorship?  We have multiple commitment levels available, so you can choose the amount and benefits that work best for your business!  Learn more on our sponsorship blog post, and then sign-up with our online form.  Thank you!

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we celebrated a different, but still magical Olde Fashioned Christmas event!  With a small army of volunteers, lights were hung, donated decorations were placed throughout the Main & Elm parking lot and goodies were staged along the route.

Participants received an event booklet with activities and a coloring sheet, crayons, and candy canes early in the line, and then received hot cocoa or cider and sugar cookies as they pulled in front of the Farmers' Market.  A take-home craft packet was given to children as they drove through the decoration display, and after driving past the live reindeer and Mr. & Mrs. Claus, children had a chance to leave a letter for Santa at the North Pole Post Office.

Olde Fashioned Christmas is always a free event, but this year we did encourage participants donate canned goods.  In total, 208 items and $135 were taken to Loving Hearts Outreach after the event.

Our traffic plan worked well for the 300 cars that drove through the event and we saw many excited and grateful smiles. 

​Thank you to everyone that helped make this event a success!