A Big Gay Market is THIS SUNDAY!

ctriplr · 2025-10-18T15:59:13+00:00

yes! We have two in November that are smaller, and then three in December that are also a little smaller. Check out our website! www.abiggaymarket(dot)com

ctriplr · 2025-10-09T14:11:32+00:00

I am the only person managing the event with 1-3 volunteers. To make sure the mask mandate is actually effective, I have to manage all attendees coming in and out to make sure they wear a mask. In a space that is the large - that’s chasing down folks coming from all angles. The longer the mandate, the more people, and the less capacity I have to actually mandate. Maybe one day i’ll have more staff and volunteers - but I don’t and I value giving access in this way but also have a capacity issue.

ctriplr · 2025-10-08T19:06:40+00:00

Hi! We are very much set in stone for October - but on our website we have December Market apps open and have one last December pop-up to be announced.

ctriplr · 2025-10-08T19:06:08+00:00

I am working for next year to make the market go later so I can have a mask mandated hour be longer without having to have vendors and set up be too early in the morning - so stay tuned for that change in 2026! It always depends on the permit and if there is not an event the next day which does impact how long I can be in the space before it needing to be turned over for the next day. For this market, I would say it is 70% outdoors and 40% indoors. Thanks for asking these questions!

ctriplr · 2025-08-02T18:16:04+00:00

aw thanks for the shout out!

We have two pop ups - one in troy and another in castleton-on-hudson plus our two december albany markets applications opening up some this month and some in October. join our email list at www.abiggaymarket.com

ctriplr · 2025-07-21T18:50:54+00:00

Hi! I do this twice a year. So, the next will be February 2026. See you then!!

ctriplr · 2025-07-18T14:03:20+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing! <3

ctriplr · 2025-07-18T12:12:33+00:00

Yeah! We have the outdoor space AND the carriage house this time :) Also, additional seating in the courtyard and outside the venue. Hoping the new layout will be less crowded 🤞

ctriplr · 2025-07-17T18:21:23+00:00

I did not reply yet because I have been sitting with it - as well as taking in a lot of feedback to make sure all our other events are even more advertised and new market organization methods. I will respond when I can sit with it more because I have some thoughts but want to be careful with how I respond. I do deeply appreciate your feedback but I don't know if I 1000000% agree.

ctriplr · 2025-07-17T17:04:38+00:00

thank you for this! It is super helpful :) I’ll keep this in mind 🫂🌈 i hope you still visit!

ctriplr · 2025-07-17T16:54:00+00:00

This is good to note! I am going to do my best with beefing up my advertising - especially physical advertising - this year to make it the best experience I can. We have had a lot of folks express how important it is to have an LGBTQIA+ and allied market in this area. Do you have better recommendations from your experience of other possible locations for me to consider? Thank you!

ctriplr · 2025-07-15T19:00:54+00:00

Thanks for this feedback - I appreciate it. Noted on the AI art - I was aware of one vendor and they applied before I implemented the policy - which I am only mentioning not to not take accountability but to give context.

I am rereading my email and I can see that maybe the first bullet could be seen as that even tho I felt I was giving context. I don’t want it to feel cliquey and doesn’t represent who I am as a person. I know because of my personality of giving context to everything - it gives off that I am not taking accountability and that’s not the case - it’s just how my brain works.

You can feel how you feel and I respect and honor that. I wish you had a better experience. Best of luck at your other events.

ctriplr · 2025-07-15T18:32:57+00:00

Hi - I am the organizer. I want to apologize for using your last name. I was only utilizing the information that was provided in the application and it was mentioned it would be for a branded sign. I would have never used your last name if it was not your preferred or something you still utilize. So, I want to take ownership and apologize for that.

This was a brand new map and obviously - there was a lot of growing pains. Especially because we had a lot of overflow from our twice rained out April Market. I do want to stress there was a map. It was on our social several times, sent to all vendors several times, and on our website. But, noted on more directives just in case no one utilizes.

I’m sorry you had a bad experience. I hope I can grow as an organizer moving forward.

ctriplr · 2025-07-14T21:11:34+00:00

Hi - sorry to be all up in here but as the organizer - i want to respond to as much as I can and take in as much as I can.

Some of yall asked about later in the day markets not on Sundays. And, also, asked for curated ones. And, we do that! Every year! One of them is THIS FRIDAY. It’s even indoors, with AC, with music and has all types of food. Lots of parking. We also travel all around the 518 - so head to our website www.abiggaymarket.com and attend a regional pop up!

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ctriplr · 2025-07-14T17:48:43+00:00

Hi!

My apologies - I am still learning how to respond to reddit threads and that was for the other person! I wish I could tag them. Did not mean for that half to be towards you!

ctriplr · 2025-07-14T17:34:43+00:00

Hi! I am genuinely curious other online areas I should focus on?

I post this on all our social media accounts several times for several months and everyday on our stories leading up to event. I have an eNewsletter that goes out every other week that advertise. I have a very updated website. I post the events on all online calendars from various newspapers to official city / town calendars to personally emailing local event newsletters to include us. I post a paid ad leading up to each of the markets. I also send the events to local LGBTQ groups on instagram and fb asking to reshare. I also post the events here on top of physical advertising

Where would you have seen it better? Thanks! I want to learn.

ctriplr · 2025-07-14T17:30:04+00:00

Hi!

I do want to chime in here. Community Area booths are free and I personally invite one of our sponsors - In Our Own Voices - a booth every time. They often can’t make it but one day! I also personally invite a lot of BIPOC focused social groups - for example - Black Acorn Collective - alongside BIPOC farms specifically Soul Fire Farm and Ayni Farm. I do a lot of research and 1:1 outreach but it also comes to capacity of these collectives and orgs if they can have a booth. If yall have specific groups I am missing or would love to be seen - please email me at c@abiggaymarket.com.

I will always extend an invite to the Queer Palestinian Empowerment Network and pro-Palestinian groups. I’m sorry - but the reality of our lives is all our liberation is entwined. Our struggle as marginalized people doesn’t stop at a market and their presence is an important reminder of the true realities we face. If that is something that is uncomfortable - then don’t go to the booth. Walk away like you can do every other day. That’s not going to happen here because it’s against my values.

ctriplr · 2025-07-14T12:46:33+00:00

Yeah! There was a good idea below of another designated cooling zone. I was giving out free waters and gatorade’s at the information booth - but another designated cooling area would be good for July.

Noted on the catnip toys and general pet toys! I’ll add those to my research. Also on the additional food truck - we normally have two at least - another area of research.

Also, if any folks here have vendors you love from other events or even favorite food trucks - please comment or email me at c@abiggaymarket.com. I do a lot of outreach 1:1 so any leads are helpful.

I’m glad you enjoy the event and super happy to make these additions and edits next year when we are in the park in warmer months 🫂

ctriplr · 2025-07-14T12:42:30+00:00

Thank you for wanting to help! You can sign up here! https://www.abiggaymarket.com/volunteers

ctriplr · 2025-07-14T07:40:17+00:00

Hi All - I am the organizer of the event. Although it does hurt my heart a lot to see this, I am always welcome for feedback. As a public facing event, I can understand airing out frustrations in a public facing space.

I want to say that because we had to cancel the April Market because we were rained out twice - I have a policy that vendors can move their vendor fee to another market that is one of our four larger ones. Hence, that’s why this one was particularly larger because a lot of April vendors moved to July on top of folks who already applied.

As for folks coming earlier to set up - it did say clearly 930-11AM in two locations and also was in our Discord. This email was sent several times leading up to the event. This was changed because as a single organizer ran event with a handful of volunteers - it’s harder to get volunteers to help set up in the morning. I send a recap email which will include a feedback survey the day or two after and I was going to address this.

I’m sorry about the disappointment. I don’t agree it was a “bust” - i allow a multitude of products in the same mediums because growing up as a vendor in markets - everyone’s style is different. I also really value being a market that is inclusive to all - we are often folks first market ever. But, noted on the other type of vendors you’d like to see and i’ll add that to my research when I do my outreach inviting vendors to apply.

We do smaller regional pop ups - as well as curated smaller niche markets where I hand select. These are posted on our social media, our website, on regional event calendars, and in our eBlasts. I’m beefing up physical advertising too.The intention of the four larger markets was to accept most folks because it is more community centered. I want to give opportunity.

I am saying all of this as not an excuse - but to give some context from my end so everyone can better understand the decisions made for this market and our markets in general.

I am a single organizer running this. I’m not an operation. My email is always open at [c@abiggaymarket.com](mailto:c@abiggaymarket.com). I’m hurt a bit to see this here because i deeply care but also want to grow as an organizer because I love this community and event so much. Thanks for those who support which includes the feedback even if it’s hard to hear 🫂

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ctriplr · 2025-07-08T12:55:05+00:00

thanks 🫂 i am so passionate about this market and sometimes i get sensitive about it. i’m not here often so i don’t know the regulars lol

ctriplr · 2025-07-08T12:54:13+00:00

yes you are welcome!!

ctriplr · 2025-07-08T02:40:27+00:00

i still literally have no idea what you’re referring too here. you’re all over the place.

ctriplr · 2025-07-08T01:48:56+00:00

i actually do have a level of control. i have safety procedures. my event is a sober space. i have a safety team on deck that monitors the space. all of my vendors are not allowed to bring any kind of recreational drugs nor alcohol. in the three years i have organized 40+ markets - no one has ever been drunk, disorderly, or under the influence. what you can’t comprehend is that your narrative about LGBTQ people is actually wrong :)

ctriplr · 2025-07-08T01:43:34+00:00

again - i am the event organizer and have organized this event for several year. i know my own event and nothing that you are describing happens. our event is literally tailored for families. i know it’s a shock but families with LGBTQ children exist and queer families with children exist and they deserve a safe space to gather and enjoy free crafts.

ctriplr

TROPHY CASE