ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford City Market will be hosting a holiday pop up market on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help vendors recoup sales lost to poor weather at this year’s Stroll on State.

More than 35 vendors are expected to be on hand to help spread the Christmas cheer, at the venue located at 116 N. Madison Street.

“We’ve had big numbers come in at other events that have happened in the building,” said Cecile Watkins-Harris, from Crust and Crumbles.

For some businesses, the holiday market comes at the perfect time.

“We do some special things for when we know that something’s happening,” Watkins-Harris said. “We’ve got some special Christmas flavors lined up that people should check out.”

Jarrod Hennis is the owner of Rockford Art Deli, at 402 E State Street. He says his sales were down this year, at Stroll on STate.

“Stroll on State this year was slower, just because of the weather,” he said. “It’s not great to go out in the rain with children, and anybody, in general.”

Lagging sales is something many downtown businesses say they dealt with.

Hennis hopes the pop up market will help the Art Deli make up the difference.

“We’re kind of playing catch up, a little bit,” he said.

Watkins-Harris added, “We had a really good crowd. I think we could have had a better crowd, had the weather cooperated. But, that’s kind of out of everybody’s hands.”

Since Rockford City Market has closed for their outdoor season, they’ve hosted numerous events in their indoor space.

Hennis says he’s thankful for the business it brings.

“I think as much exposure as possible is great for the holiday season,” he said. “The extra markets that are happening, and you get your walk-in traffic in the store, and you get extra people going to the markets. So, I think that’s always helping out with sales and exposure.”

The Norwegian Restaurant, at 1402 North Main Street, is also hosting a Christmas market this weekend, in the style of a Scandinavian fishing village, from 3 – 9 p.m. on Saturday.

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