With all the visitor traffic that seems to be coming to town each weekend, Washington First wants to grow Market Day on The Square - the first Saturday each month from May to October - into a bigger event this year.

"We need more folks to come out and sell their goods," said Henry Harris. "We'd like to attract church groups and youth groups doing bake sales, people with crafts and artwork, all kinds of things. We'd like Grandma with her canned goods - we're open to lots of things. We don't want it to become a yard sale, but we'd like more vendors."

Market Days on The Square has usually seen fewer than a dozen vendors in recent years, but with the new surge of tourism, and assets like the soon-to-open Farmers Market just off The Square, the once-amonth events are poised to grow into real crowd-drawing attractions.

The first Market Day is Saturday, May 1. Booths are available for $10, and limited tent space is available on a first-come, first-served basis, Washington First says, and it's best to reserve a spot by calling the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce at 706-678-2013.