Naked faces, renewed energy and endless socializing at today's Penticton Farmers' Market

What a difference a week makes.

Today, for the first time in what feels like forever, the Penticton Farmers' Market went maskless. It also permitted two-way travel, unlimited guests, and pets.

The recent lifting of many COVID regulations was huge news for the Penticton staple, which had struggled under necessary but stifling pandemic measures since the spring of 2020.

And the ambience upgrade was obvious from the moment you arrived.

People strolled about and chatted freely. They entered and exited where and when they wanted to. Vendor booths were once again exciting and lively places to be.

And no one was forced to endure a long, tedious lineup to get in.

Market volunteer Lynn Wood was thrilled.

"Everything's different today, " she said. "Masks are not required. People can walk in both directions, whereas previously it was one-way. The number of people is unlimited, where we used to be 75 people at a time.

"The lineup used to go around the corner, around the next corner, and all the way down Martin Street."

But Wood emphasized that there was one new issue brought on by the mandate relaxation.

"It's weird because I have very little to do now," she laughed.

Market manager Linda Van Alphen was equally psyched.

"Were finally wide open," she said. "We don't have any caution tape up. We're allowing pets. People can choose to wear a mask if they want, and everyone is going in all different directions and enjoying it to no end.

"It's exciting. But I am a little nervous in a way because I’m so used to talking about the restrictions. Now I'm just saying 'Welcome.'"

Van Alphen noted that social distancing restrictions are still in effect, and added that she hasn't hired any musicians so far for 2021.

Buskers are, however, permitted to set up and play as long as they monitor noise levels.

Maureen Walker of MJ's Objets d'Art was all about the return to normal.

"It’s a beautiful day," she said. "I'm healthy, COVID restrictions are off, business is wonderful and life is good.

"There are so many things to be sad about in our country and the world right now, but today we can forget about that for a bit."

Alexis Esseltine, who with husband Tim Scoon are the new owners of Tin Whistle Brewery, poured samples for eager tasters then told us the signs of a new beginning were there even before the market's official 8:30 am opening this morning.

"We were just getting set up and people were already moving through the market even before it opened. This is what a market should be."

In an interesting twist, the pandemic was the key to their brewery purchase.

"We lost our jobs from COVID," she said, "and this is our COVID pivot. We moved to Penticton from Vancouver and bought a microbrewery that's the oldest in the south Okanagan. We've always wanted to do this. This is our dream."

Kevin Dunn of Okanagan Wildbrush Honey, a market veteran, said the day delivered a "whole new feeling."

"This is new energy. People are coming from all directions. I think everyone's done a good job following regulations and I think the regulations are coming from a consistent message. It's been a really good system."

Dunn explained that Wildbrush is a two-pronged business.

"We focus on two things. Crop pollination for farmers in the spring -- so at blossom time we brings beehives for pollination. And we specialize in wildflower honey after pollination.

"All plants and flowers need insets to cross-pollinate, to bring pollen from one flower to the next, in order to create fruit. And without bees it can’t happen.

"So we'll bring in one or two beehives per acre (at 50,000 bees per hive), so literally millions of bees to do the job. My wife and I do the majority of the pollination in the Okanagan valley for the farmers."

Karis Moes of Little Fork Ranch in Greenwood, BC said the difference between last week and this was "huge."

"So many people today have been telling me this is the first time they've been to the market since this all started. They're just excited to get back into the community again."

At their 300-acre ranch, Moes and crew raise cattle, pigs, lamb, and chicken.

"With our meat," she said, "you know exactly how it was raised. It was raised two hours away from you, out in the pasture its entire life. Our processing facility is only 20 minutes down the road, so it’s low stress for travel time. And the benefits of pasteurized meat is enormous over the meat in the grocery store.

"We just try to raise animals that have a great life and are outside eating grass all day."

Danielle Szredni with "Wildcraft" is a market newbie. She carves items from wild materials and the results are spectacular. Coffee scoops, necklaces, baskets, hair sticks, utensils and more -- all created completely by hand.

This was her fourth weekend at the market, and she admitted business has been a bit less feverish than she'd like.

"But there's such a difference in the crowd today," she added. "I think with opening up, business will get better."

Mary Athanasis, who runs "Taste of Egypt," makes Egyptian-styled sauces and dips that taste marvelous. She lives in Salmon Arm and makes the commute specifically for the Penticton Farmers' Market and the Summerland Sunday Market.

"It's amazing today," she said as a crowd of energized folk, most with shamelessly naked faces, surrounded her booth.

"People are so happy now with no masks."