The first Welkom flea market for 2024 was a great success, and there were more than 80 stalls that formed part of a whole new-look, new-feel market.
“This is a major outdoor flea market which has been operating for close on 35 years if not longer. In its heyday, when our city had many active gold mines, we managed around 400 stalls.
“Now it has dropped to around 80 to 140 a month, which in these days is not too bad,” says the chairman of the Welkom Publicity Association (WPA), Brian Emmenis.
“Flea markets have become big business and now everybody is holding flea markets. The WPA’s board was faced with many challenges in 2023. We had to come up with a change to suit our exhibitors.
“The terrain in North Park is very large and the public were complaining that the stalls were scattered all over the show, which resulted in patrons having to walk long distances,” says Emmenis.
Last week, prior to the market on Saturday, 13 January, the WPA board held many meetings to discuss the feasibility of the market and whether the market should continue.
“Rumours were running rife, so we decided to pull out all the stops to make this, the first market of the year, a big success.”
Emmenis says they have received numerous compliments and a large number of the exhibitors were pleased with the outcome of the first market.
“We have huge praise for the Matjhabeng Park’s and Recreation department who made sure that the area was spotless.
“Because of the large fence around the terrain, the area is very safe and not one incident was reported. This is definitely the start of many special events that we intend to hold. I am very grateful to my full board, our staff, exhibitors and the public for making this great Welkom tradition a success,” says Emmenis.
