GATLINBURG — They were having a dog-gone good time Saturday at the Gatlinburg Farmers Market as they celebrated the success of the weekly gathering’s first year and prepared to pack things away until next year.

It seemed fitting to organizers that the last market for this year be marked by a Harvestfest, so they planned a gathering that included pumpkin painting, bobbing for apples and even a costume contest for canines. The event drew not only an adorable lineup of doggies in duds, but also a crowd of people looking for one last hurrah of fresh eats on a morning that brought the first frost to parts of Sevier County.

“This is the culmination of a wonderful first year and we just thought this would be a wonderful way to celebrate that,” said Nancy Gray, who sits on the market’s board. “We are really pleased with the numbers we had, the participation of our own locals and the visitors.”

Gray and the other organizers said much of their intent was to target those who live in the area, while still inviting in those who don’t.

“Gatlinburg is a really incredible city and it just needed a community hub,” market association President Megan Jones explained. “We certainly welcome in anyone who wants to stop, but we really see this as an opportunity for our community to come together each week and see what amazing things our vendors have to offer. A lot of Gatlinburg is focused on the visitors and that’s fine, but we wanted to start something that, month to month, could offer something for the locals.”

Not only was it an opportunity for area residents to come together to share what they have to offer and browse what their neighbors displayed, it was also a chance to keep some spending money in the county.

“This is a great way to stimulate the local economy,” market-goer Vesna Plakanis said. “When we spend a dollar at a local farmers market like this, two times as much money stays in the area as when you buy from a chain store.”

Among the items that have been sold during the market’s run starting in the spring are handcrafts like woven shawls and corn husk dolls, fruits and vegetables of every hue and type, freshly baked cookies, and even lye soap.

“I think this farmers market is unique because not only do we have things that are coming out of the ground, the fruits and vegetables, we have these wonderful handmade items that come from the talent of our local people,” Gray explained.

While Saturday’s gathering in the parking lot of Alamo Steakhouse on East Parkway was the last for this year, Jones vows the market will be back and, hopefully, even better come spring.

“People didn’t expect it to be this successful, but we’ve been blown away by how well it has been received,” she said. “We’re going to be working all winter to create more awareness and grow it even more.”

Among those browsing Saturday was Vice Mayor Mike Warner, who said he shares the group’s dream of growing the market.

“We’ve been here about every Saturday. It has been a great way to spend a Saturday,” Warner said. “I hope they’ll grow it every year and maybe one day Gatlinburg will have a farmers market that people know like the one over in Asheville.”

To that end, market Vice President Allyson Virden said the city has been very supportive of their efforts.

“They’ve been great to work with and Alamo has been so generous to let us take up their parking lot once a week,” she said.

dhodges@themountainpress.com