Driving a few miles—or even better, walking a few blocks—it feels good to shop among friends and neighbors, as well as to be local. On Saturday, two rural communities held outdoor markets-Vinton and DeQuincy.

In Vinton, elementary and middle school students who completed the entrepreneurship seminar sold clay earrings, baked goods, DIY bracelet kits, and dog scarves on one side of the city center, while retailers and established vendors peddled goods on the other side.

Isabella Dommert sells biscuits and gummies.

"I have been baking since I was 1 year old," said Dommert, a sixth grader. "Well, I've been helping my Nana in the kitchen ever since. My mother helped me price everything."

Jessica Heard promotes fitness with a clever design. The Christmas package is marked "How much can you lift?" She promotes the new Ward 6 Rec Center in the small town of Vinton, where the membership fee is monthly 15 US dollars, 10 US dollars for seniors.

"In addition to fitness equipment, we also provide yoga classes," she said, "but we are looking for more teachers and recruiting people for our basketball league."

Next door is the kind of shop that can only be found in rural communities. On one shelf are women's popular fedora hats, and on the other shelf are baits and plumbing accessories. Cajun music floats from an old men’s barbershop. Less than a block away, a peacock swaggered in the street.

The city’s spokesperson, Amanda Stutes, said that the town market in Vinton will be held on a Saturday every quarter and combined with town celebrations. The next time is scheduled for April.

The De Quincy Farmers Market is part of the De Quincy Chamber of Commerce’s festival "Salute to Our Army". Activities on the day include parades, markets and fireworks.

This is the third such open market/festival held at the De Quincy Railway Museum this year. Seventy-five suppliers offered everything from lucky beads to toast, duck screams to rifle lotteries and more.

The temperature was in the 1970s, but the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Kleco allowed children to play in the snow.

Kelley Menou is the DeQuincy market/festival organizer. When Shelton approached Menou to design a logo for her company Figs and Feathers Acres, she and her friend Lexie Shelton talked about the concept. Shelton is an engineer. Making and selling jelly and hot sauce is her creative outlet.

"I didn't take this idea right away," Menou said. "When I was on maternity leave, I figured out how to start."

Menou said the goal is to create a community. The quality of the goods, the large number of buyers, keeping money locally, providing places for artisans and growers to sell goods, and listening to the latest news in person rather than on social media sites are all by-products.

"I hope De Quincy thrives," she said. "We have taken root here. In addition to the amazing Louisiana Railroad Festival held here every April, I also hope to take my daughters to the exciting events of the local community."

Suppliers must grow or manufacture most of the items in their booths.

"Many of these vendors don't have traditional storefronts," she said. "This is how they sell goods. We have a lot of local talent here."

Cooper Hill Farms brought mustard and kale, kale, sweet potatoes and honey. Cher LaRoque has always liked handicrafts, but the market gave her the first opportunity. She had to sell what she made. Board and Bread is the DeQuincy husband and wife team. She sells "handmade, spontaneous" bread. He becomes a beautiful bowl. The First Baptist Church is selling items to help a whispering project of hope for girls who fled the village to avoid arranged marriages. Daniel Cox usually makes pumpkin rolls during the holidays. He sold one or two, nothing like what he did in the market.

"I make more money to buy Christmas gifts for the children," he said.

Mac Box returned to the DeQuincy December market after the macaroons on the October market were sold out.

"We brought 800 pieces, and the last one was sold at 11:03," she said.

The market is from 10 am to 2 pm. On Monday and Friday, she baked 1,800 for the Saturday market.

"This is a baking record," she said.

Jeffra Wise DeViney, chairman of the Rotary Club, said: “Time is too tight.” “This is not just a marketing concept. We need this outlet, a place for families to bring their children. The departure from the culture of cancellation."

Discover businesses in southwestern Louisiana on social media