Gypsy Sun Caravan lets attendees find their inner free spirits

Hundreds of people turned out Saturday for the Gypsy Sun Caravan in Jackson City Park.

The Caravan is a type of traveling bazaar, founded by Jessica Bauwens of De Soto, Missouri, where local artisans can sell their crafts.

With food and music and handmade goods, it’s a lot like a farmers market, but with a vibe that’s more hippie-ish than others.

Although some of the two dozen vendors who filled the park travel with the event from town to town, others, such as Natalie McCrae, are fixtures at the farmers markets around Cape Girardeau.

McCrae sells handcrafted jewelery and clothing and said when a friend from the Cape Farmers Market mentioned a gypsy-themed event, she thought it sounded like a good fit for her.

Susan Smith poses for a photo Saturday during the Gypsy Sun Caravan at Jackson City park.Laura Simon

She said business had been somewhat slow during the soggy morning hours.

“I think people were kind of waiting because of the weather we’ve been having for the last couple of days,” she said. “But, yeah, I think it has been pretty good so far after all.”

Many of the vendors and shoppers saw the event as an opportunity to let out their inner gypsy, wearing brightly colored dresses and jewelery.

One vendor, Annette Clark of Carbondale, Illinois, said the theme was a big part of what drew her to participate.

“No, these aren’t what we typically wear,” she said of the bright costumes and jewelery she and her partner, Eaudra Biedenstein, wore.

“We really had to scrounge a little bit to come up with these costumes,” she said.

But their booth, which sold essential oils, fit right in with the Jimi Hendrix music the band was playing and the hoop-dancers at the other end of the park.

One shopper, Sarah Temple, said the novelty of the event lived up to her expectations.

“I just wanted to see what was up. I live in Illinois,” she said. “And I usually enjoy going to farmers markets, but how many farmers markets are like this where people come dressed as gypsies?”

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

Jackson City Park, Jackson, Mo.