ORANGE PARK – Families came out to stroll through a variety of the stalls, enjoy the tastes on some on-site food trucks, and have some fun at the Orange Park Mall held a Farm and Flea event on Saturday, Jan. 30, that bring local vendors, crafters, food trucks, games and people together.

The event was held at the Grove, the grassy area across from the Dick’s Sporting Goods and JC Penney parking lots. Life-sized connect four was set up as well as games of cornhole.

One patron enjoying cornhole with his daughter Rebecca was Orange Park resident Franciso Robiou.

“I found out by my wife. She was the one that told me,” said Robiou. “She [his wife] mentioned that there were going to be some shops, so we came by just to see what everyone was selling or to get some ideas to decorate the house. Maybe we can get something we like. We come out whenever my wife finds out if she’s interested, and we have the room in the schedule.”

Many different vendors were there, selling all types of items, such as concentrated cleaner for boats, tie-dyed cloths and homemade natural hair and skin products.

Bria Joyce, a local entrepreneur who owns Sugababie Butters, set up her stall to showcase her products.

“At Sugagbabie, I make all-natural hair and body products, starting with products for your hair and products for your skin. I have products from men with beard care and scrubs. They’re all made organically, and they’re all made with shea butter that’s shipped directly from Africa,” Joyce said.

She has been running Sugababie Butters for three years and found out about the Farm and Flea via Facebook. She reached out to the mall and was able to secure a spot for her stall.

“It’s kind of hard as a small business out here to get your name out, but it’s great to find people and friends in the community who embrace you and let you come out and show them what you have to offer,” she said.

“We started Farm and Flea last year in June. We really wanted to be able to support local makers and artists and vendors during the pandemic,” said Chelsea Commodari, Marketing Director at orange Park Mall. “Obviously, this is a way to mix commercial real estate with community support. We really want to be doing everything we can to just support 904 and help out everyone that we can while being able to provide the community with something to come out and do in a safe way.”