By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

Ainsley Lear, 3, of Hughestown waits with her mom at the Pittston Farmers Market in 2014.

Colin Corbett, 1, of Pittston looks at the produce for sale at the Pittston Farmers Market in 2014.

PITTSTON — The Pittston Farmers Market is about to get more kid-friendly.

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The farmers market will hold a Children’s Day and feature activities to keep children entertained and educated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28 in the Lower Tomato Festival lot where the market is held.

Mary Angelella, in her third year as market coordinator, says this is the first Children’s Day under her regime and that former coordinator, Maria Capolarella-Montante, kept children involved by giving them play money to purchase what they wanted from a vendor.

Angelella wants to keep youngsters educated as to what foods they are eating.

“The purpose is to try to get children to experience buying local fruits and vegetables, to get a sense of where their food comes from and and learn the part of a farmer’s career in going to the market to sell their product,” she said.

The Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) will be on hand to teach children how to grow plants, talk about healthy beverages and show children how to make infused water using herbs they planted.

Infused water is when herbs are left sitting in a glass of water, eventually releasing healthy nutrients and proteins to make the beverage healthier.

“I think this is the most important part of the Children’s Day,” said Angelella. “Many children don’t have an opportunity to do a plant themselves and it gives them a little idea of how their food starts and where it comes from.”

CEO will also do face painting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. while Jenn Johnson entertains the children with a sing and dance along.

“I know face painting is very popular with kids and I asked if CEO knew anybody and they offered to have someone come do that, also,” said Angelella. “I also thought the music was important to be kid-oriented and I asked Jenn Johnson, who I was trying to schedule for the season, if she did it or she knew someone who does kid songs. She actually does quite a bit of work with nursery schools, and she agreed to perform.”

There will also be sidewalk art, allowing children to show their artistic sides by drawing on the market grounds and Jubilee Balloons will do balloon sculptures.

The Perspective Church Youth Community Ministry will sell cookies and cupcakes at 50 cents each while the Friends of the Pittston Memorial Library will sell tickets for a back-to-school basket. The winner of the basket will be announced in August.

Angelella anticipates a strong turnout and plans to hold the event again in the future.

“I’ll definitely make it a yearly tradition,” she said. “We’re starting with one a year and seeing how this goes. Because the summer is short, I guess I could do two, one in July and one in August. But, right now, it’s just one.”

While children are being entertained, adults can enjoy two new vendors.

Vanauken’s Lemonade, of West Wyoming, will be on hand with fresh-squeezed lemonade while Pittston’s own Jacqueline Troy will sell homemade quilts, blankets and purses.

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher