One of the rituals of the summer is upon us – the beginning of the Pepper Place Saturday Market tomorrow morning. The market will begin it’s eighth season promptly at 7 a.m. and close at noon in the Pepper Place parking lot. This of course means that 2nd Avenue between 28th and 29th Streets, South will be blocked off all of those Saturday mornings (so don’t get any ideas about using it as a short cut on Saturdays through October). According to the event website, new products available include hand carved wooden fruit trays, wind chimes, hand blown glass, hot sauces, pottery, homemade fudge, peanut brittle and ice cream.

There are 22 dates on the calendar for them this year, rain or shine, with additional events planned including the 1st annual Alabama Wine Festival on May 19, Wheeling for Hope on September 8 (benefiting adult and pediatric brain tumor research) and the Dixie Region Antique Automobile Club of America’s car show on September 29.

Dates should be announced soon for the Wednesday afternoon edition of the market, taking place in downtown’s Linn Park during the summer months.