LEXINGTON, Ky. — Encouraging community involvement in Kentucky’s thriving small business scene, Lexington’s Local Lex Market concluded its first Sunday block series this weekend. 

The Local Lex Market invited families out for a day of fun to mark the unofficial beginning of the fall shopping season.

From food and drinks to crafts and clothes, over a dozen vendors set up outside of the Southland Drive location for one of the final Sunday block parties of the year. 

Some businesses featured skilled showcasing like wooden spoon making, jewelers, and even cartoon drawings. Fran Riddell is a long-time caricature artist who mingled with guests for the second time in the series. 

“I started when they first opened 19 months ago and I started doing caricatures for a couple of months and then I got really busy,” Riddell said.

A caricature artist for over 35-years, Fran Riddell holds one of her recent drawings. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)

As a Lexington native, she enjoys interacting with a community she knows well and seeing the new products being made. 

“I run into old friends and that’s what’s the most fun and I love to see the local artist and all their new creations, so every time I walk into the Local Lex I see new, new creations,” she added.

Local Lex Market staff Heidi Marsh has been with the store since its opening last spring. Marsh says the block party pop-up event allows new business owners to test the world of sales.

“We also have different vendors that may be considering coming into the store, and they’re not sure how it works. And we’re just kind of like one big happy family,” Marsh said.

Inside the Local Lex store, guests could also find gifts and everyday items sourced by Kentucky’s business. 

With the cool weather approaching, the Local Lex Market plans to host indoor craft and maker’s training courses, showing the public how to create items from home.