Students who like to walk through the Student Union on Wednesdays might notice something different about Market Days this fall. That’s because they have been featuring more outside businesses, such as vendors who sell clothing and skateboards.

“People didn’t actually recognize Market Day as an event, didn’t know what it was,” Market Day Coordinator Hannah Smith said. She said that’s changing.

Smith said they’ve quadrupled the number of outside vendors, who pay $30 each time they table at Market Day. She said that money goes back into the university.

Businesses like Adventure Landing, Kilwins and Sweet by Holly have been at Market Day. Smith said they’re working on getting bigger companies and some of Jacksonville’s professional sports teams to the weekly Osprey Plaza event.

Smith said Market Day has been more strict with merchants coming internally from UNF. “If they’re not active – you know, not engaging to students –  it’s just not worth anyone’s time to be out here.”

Clubs are still allowed to be at Market Day if they’re active, Smith said. She said she works with clubs and gives them ideas, such as games, to get students more involved.

She said she wants Market Day to have more of a festival feel and include live music.

Market Day will now have theme days at least once a month, Smith said.

The next theme day will feature a gross foods challenge with things like fried bugs, century eggs and pig’s feet. Shawna Nelson, child psychology senior  said she wished they had food trucks at Market Days.

Jordan Wilson, political science junior, said, “I like the liveliness. You can really tell that there’s a community being gathered around UNF.”

Gallery photos by Lacey Wyndham

Email Saphara Harrell at reporter30@unfspinnaker.com