This spring, the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra will once again be presenting the highly anticipated Seventh Annual Premiere Market. For the annual market fundraiser, the Brazos Valley Symphony Society will bring together a diverse collection of merchants selling unique specialty items, home accessories, designer clothing for adults and children, quality jewelry, gourmet foods, and much more. Shoppers from all over can enjoy the market and shop a great selection of items on Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, at the Brazos Center. Proceeds from the Premiere Market benefit the cultural and educational programs of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. Platinum Level Market Sponsors include: KBTX Media, H-E-B, The Arts Council, The City of Bryan, and The City of College Station.
Premiere Market Chair David Woodcock shares his thoughts on why this year’s market is an event that people do not want to miss.
“Premiere Market 2019 will be held in the newly refurbished Brazos Center, a location well-known for great local events, and easy to access.” He adds, “We have lots of old favorites returning to the BVSS Premiere Market, and many exciting new booths invited following our visits to other regional markets to recruit the very best merchants. Look for clothing for all seasons, and hats for Easter and for Derby Day. There will be tasty food from Italy to India alongside some of Texas’ best flavors. You will find jewelry to add sparkle to any occasion, as well as adornments for your favorite furry pets, books and gifts to challenge the mind and lift the spirit. There will even be a chance to meet some local authors and have them sign a copy of their books.”
The market will be open to the public on April 5 and 6 at The Brazos Center, where everyone is invited to “shop in support of the symphony” from 9am to 6pm on Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturday. Shoppers can also take care of all of their spring shopping needs since the market comes just in time for Easter, Mother’s Day, graduations, Father’s Day, and summer weddings. However, no special occasion is needed to indulge in shopping that benefits a great cause. Market Chair Valerie Woodcock believes that “the best part of the Market is that it supports our wonderful Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, a local treasure that brings music of all kinds to audiences from school children, college students, families, and across generations for the entire community to enjoy.”
The two-day shopping pass will be on sale at the door for $5 and the price includes entry to the Premiere Market on both Friday and Saturday. Shoppers can come and go as many times as they need to with the two-day pass.
For this year’s Premiere Market, market organizers have prepared several special events to keep attendees entertained. To start the shopping day off right, the market will kick off with Muffins, Mimosas & More. On Friday, April 5, from 9am to 11am, paying guests ($15) will indulge in a complimentary mimosa or a non-alcoholic alternative. The event will also offer delicious muffins, a gourmet coffee bar, and other breakfast goodies to compliment their shopping experience without the need to worry about breakfast before leaving the house in the morning. The $15 paid towards the “Muffins” event also includes the two-day shopping pass.
The Happiest Hour also takes place on Friday from 4pm to 6pm. During this time, the Big Apple Trio, a local favorite three-member jazz band, will perform as musical guests. A cash bar on site will offer drink specials and a signature cocktail that will soon be announced. As a bonus, the timing is perfect for those who want to stop by after a long day at work just to check things out and then plan to continue their shopping experience on Saturday to secure those unforgettable items.
Anyone who loves bacon will appreciate Bacon & Bloody Marys on Saturday, April 6, from 10am to 12pm. This annual favorite will provide bacon-centric breakfast items available for purchase, as well as Bloody Marys sold at the bar. Saturday will also have photos with the Easter Bunny from 1pm to 3pm, a great opportunity for family fun and keepsakes. Both children and adults can hop on over to get a memorable free digital shot with the Easter Bunny; purchase options will be available as well for this stylish photo op.
During all market hours, the Premiere Market Bistro Café will serve a variety of delicious, lunch-like offerings for shoppers, so there is no need to go off site to satisfy both shopping and food needs.
Mary Koeninger, the BVSO executive director, describes her reasons for why Premiere Market is such a special community event.
“The market really allows everyone in the Brazos Valley to come out and support the arts in a fun and enjoyable way. You have a varied selection of specialized merchants brought together in one convenient location, ready to share their fantastic wares and shoppers excited to look for unique items. At the end of the day, the market is such a wonderful place to take care of all kinds of shopping needs, as well as have your dollars work overtime by supporting an important community cause at the same time.”
Interested shoppers can follow the Premiere Market on Facebook (@PremiereMarket), Twitter (@PremiereMarket), and Instagram (@premieremarketbvso) for merchant spotlights, giveaways, and more. More information can also be found by visiting the brand-new Premiere Market website at www.premieremarket.org or www.bvso.org or by calling the Symphony office at (979) 696-6100.
About the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra The BVSO is a nonprofit performing arts organization with the mission to maintain a symphony of high artistic standards, and to promote the musical arts for cultural and education purposes in the Brazos Valley. For more information about the Symphony's 2018- 2019 season, visit www.bvso.org.
