By Greg Ellison

(Sept. 24, 2020) Twin events will be held this weekend at White Horse Park and the adjacent Ocean Pines Community Center, with one for Halloween-oriented kids on Sunday, and the other for bargain hunters and shoppers on Saturday.

Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue said Ocean Pines’ Fall Outdoor Flea Market will take place Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in White Horse Park.

“Saturday’s flea market is our annual fall flea market,” she said.

Unlike in past years, when vendors were inside the Community Center, and a few were set up in the parking lot, that approach has been changed because of the covid-19 pandemic.

“We were not able to do it indoors, obviously, but we were given permission to do it outside,” she said.

Donahue said despite the change, more than 40 vendors are on board for the flea market.

“We were excited by the fact that most of our indoor vendors were willing to stay and to do the flea market outside,” she said.

Merchants will be offering keepsakes and bargains for a variety of goods, including toys and clothing for kids, DVDs for film buffs, paperbacks and hardcovers for bookworms and all kinds of furniture.

By contrast, the Halloween Craft Time on Sunday is strictly for youngsters.

“They’re doing a woodworking Halloween craft for kids,” she said.

With October about to begin, Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks is providing an opportunity for kids to get in the spirit by painting a wooden Halloween sign.

The children’s workshop will take place from 10-11 a.m. inside the Community Center and cost $5 per participant. The fee will cover of the cost of materials.

“For the Halloween Craft Time, they do have to wear masks if they are over the age of 5 and adults will have to wear masks as well, because it will be inside,” she said.

The same safety precautions will be in place for the Fall Outdoor Flea Market on Saturday.

“Even for the flea market, we’re asking that all the vendors and patrons wear a mask just like they would anyplace else,” she said.

Donahue said the rules are in line with similar measures in place at the Farmers and Artisans Market held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in White Horse Park

“We have always had them do six-foot distancing,” she said.

Maryland remains under an executive order issued by Gov. Larry Hogan on April 15 that requires the use of facemasks inside retail establishments, which includes farmers markets.

“The vendors wear masks and the people that attend wear masks,” she said. “I had a discussion with [Market Manager] David [Bean]… and there were signs put up.”

Donahue said White Horse Park would likely be abuzz with activity on Saturday since the Fall Flea Market coincides with the regularly scheduled Farmers and Artisans Market.

“You could literally come in one side of the park and walk right through the flea market and keep right on walking over to the farmers market,” she said. “It just sort of all flows together.”

For more information or questions, contact the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department at 410-641-7052, email rec@oceanpines.org, or visit www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/recreation-parks.