Sunday Market on Main Street Designed to Promote Art and Business in Collinsville

Kate McAllister is unrepentant in her desire to promote art and business in Collinsville.

McAllister feels the town has lost much of its artistic edge that was so pervasive in the past couple decades.

In addition, while she wants all the downtown businesses to succeed. She feels that too many visitors never even realize that businesses such as ABC Pizza, the Village Sweet Shoppe or Wilson’s Pub exist just two blocks from the busy hub of the Farmington River Trail and the Town Hall Parking Lot, where the Canton Advocates for Responsible Expansion sponsor a Farmer’s Market every Sunday.

So McAllister, who owns River City Art on North Street, has organized two Sunday Market on Main Street events this month.

“I want to bring awareness to the artists, crafters and businesses,” she said. “It would be nice if we could get people to walk from the farmer’s market, up Main Street and around the corner. “

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Sundays Aug. 11 and 25,  a small portion of Main Street, from Market Street to The Green, will be closed off and feature vendors, crafters, screen printers and some very special guests, such as a theatre troupe.

McAllister and others are also working on getting non-profit status for a new group, the Collinsville Artists Cooperative.

In addition to the markets and hopes for gallery space and more, McAllister is organizing an art market as part of the Canton Vol. Fire Department Inc.’s Lobsterfest. From noon to 4 on Aug. 17 at the fireman’s field on Canton Springs Road. That event will feature many artists, crafters and other vendors as well as some mini-golf fun utilizing structures that were built as part of a mini-golf build-off McAllister organized in late 2011.

For more about the events, other plans and the artists cooperative, visit

https://www.facebook.com/CollinsvilleArtistsCooperative