You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.
– Walter Hagen
We have all been to a market or fair at least once when we were children. Some of these are still fun to visit as grown-ups, even if we don’t buy anything. It is the joy of an abundance of fruit and vegetables, flowers, people…And often everything for sale is elaborately exposed.
Here are some of my summer memories from such events. Enjoy the season and the smiles, and then – I’d love to see some of your memories too! They can be from any fair, Farmers’ market, Christmas market, or maybe a carnival? From your own country or from abroad – feel free to choose whatever you have in store!
Life is a lot like jazz… it’s best when you improvise.
– George Gershwin
Ystad Jazz festival last week – Good music, lovely people and beautiful, creative art! (And ice cream of course…) Jazz maybe attracts mostly grown-ups and elderly people, but they do bring their children and grandchildren too. (And dogs) Hoping they will get hooked on the feeling?
Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.
– Hans Christian Andersen
Every year there is jousting at Hovdala castle – our nearest castle just 10 kilometers away. I used to go when one of my students was in the competitions. Fun for all ages. Knights, horses, castles and fair ladies!
To me, flowers are happiness.
– Stefano Gabbana
Finally, Madeira – the lovely land of flowers. When we visited for a week in June, we came upon several different fairs and markets. They have quite a few over the year. One of them had a sustainability theme. At the harbour they had put up big hearts for life and painted recued PET bottles as a ceiling.
A big Thank you to John for another turn of learning last week! I truly enjoyed seeing examples and tips. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with this week! Next week we will have another chance of ”Looking Back”, with Sofia at the helm. Be sure to visit her beautiful site for more!
Until then – stay calm, be careful and loving.
Leya 
When I find it!?
Well,here at last is my entry, delayed because I wanted to add some more images of busy markets in Provence, but I couldn’t download the images from my computer so I have finally submitted this without them. hope you enjoy!
Of course I will!
😄😄
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I really like your photos here. They feel very day-to-day pleasant to me, and it’s a nice thing to see at the moment, I think.
Here’s mine for this one:
https://stupidityhole.com/2025/08/16/frog-kite-near-light/
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Here is mine for the week
https://norasphotos4u.wordpress.com/2025/08/14/lens-artists-challenge-found-at-the-fair-market/
Thank you!
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What a fun prompt! Now I’m filled with nostalgia . . .
Great theme, great photos. Great fairs! I love the Gershwin quote. Improvise!!!
I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date. No time to say hello goodbye, I’m late I’m late I’m late. https://fairplay740.wordpress.com/2025/08/14/lens-artists-challenge-360-found-at-the-fair-market/
hello a.c.
You’ve chosen a great and interesting theme for this week. I really like your pictures, especially the last six.
Here is my contribution to the challenge, https://wp.me/pfnz9O-PW.
Many greetings, Robert
Lens-Artists Challenge #360 – Viktualienmarkt | Ladyleemanila
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So much to enjoy here. So many wonderful takes on your own theme. Just a quickie from me. I know you will agree that grandchildren have to outbid blogging! https://margaret21.com/2025/08/13/found-at-the-fair/
Oh, yes! I totally agree!
All those gorgeous flowers! I wouldn’t know what to pick!
Personally I think it’s enough looking!
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Eek, I can’t believe I haven’t left a comment yet. I blame travel! What a great theme, Anne-Christine! Street fairs, markets and festivals are hallmarks of the summer season. Gorgeous pictures to guide the theme.The food, the music, the aromas…wonderful.
Thanks Terri!
I love your medieval festivals; we don’t have anything like them here in Vancouver (probably because the city didn’t come into being until a few hundred years later (1886). Anyway, I found a fair number of unpublished posts on food markets (another fave of mine) and published this one of the famous fish market from Tokyo in 2003.
I am happy to share the medeival festival – always a treat!
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I love the light in that first set of photos, the cool light of a northern summer.
Thanks for the topic this week. I feel like I have to think of content rather than form after many weeks. Here’s my effort of the week: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2025/08/11/markets/
Thank you – yes, the light is different depending on where you are. And it always says something about the place and its people. It will be interesting to see your post.
I absolutely live street music so I am glad you included that photo, The photo that took my breath was the woman in her outdoor flower paradise.
I enjoyed reminiscing with you. A fabulous challenge for us AC
Thank you so much! ♥
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A-C, here is mine for today. I would have had a lot of other photos to post about markets but this one is the most recent one from yesterday. https://wanderingteresa.com/monday-walk-in-melbourne-cbd/
Thank you! Then you and I thought alike – the recent one it should be!
Sometimes the challenges goes in good timing with life haha
They do!
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This is the perfect summer challenge, Leya. Your market pictures are quite varied mixed in with fair pictures. I bet it was hard to narrow down which pictures to show! 🙂 xxx Have a great week, my friend. 🙂
Thank you, Marsha – you too my friend!
xxxx
Ann-Christine, here’s my entry for the week:
https://throughbrazilianeyes.com/mercado-central/
Thank you!
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We’ve enjoyed a few outdoor markets over the years. They are always enjoyable to walk through, but my favorites are Renaissance Fairs!
Thank you – yes, they are great!
There is so much life, laughter, joy and enjoyment here.I adore visiting local markets, fairs and festival as well.It tells so much how character each town has.Lovely finds as well!
Thank you – yes, they send positive vibes most of them!
Such beautiful captures! Here are mine
Thank you!
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Dear Ann-Christine
We love fairs. Thanks for your beautiful pictures.
Siri & Selma can never decide if they should go as fair ladies or witches.
Have a happy week
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
♥♥♥♥
Oh, what a great set of different fairs, rather a good prompt, I think! I’m having a trip down memory lane seeing Hovdala Slott,
Thank you, Sue! Glad you remember Hovdala!
😊😊
Interesting idea for a challenge Ann-Christine. Love what you go, not sure what I have will fit, but I will do my best.
Thank you, Leanne – it will be a treat I am sure!
You’ve certainly captured all the fun of the fair. Lovely images
Thank you, Pauline!
What a wonderful theme! Very full of possibilities. I liked your photos a lot. Now, I have to get to work.
Thank you, Egidio! I liked to keep it cosy and small. I expect there to be a lot of more extravagant feasts from our readers.
Festive and colorful!!
Thank you, Nora! And cosy and calm.
Wonderful array of images. I love festivals and it looks like you have some of the best.
Those pink-skinned dragon fruit in the last photo make my mouth water. I usually buy a couple every week (despite the price). And who doesn’t like knights in shining armour. That’s one festival we don’t have here in Melbourne (to my knowledge) and I’d love to go to yours.
Thank you – I’d love to see you there! And I must admit – I have never tasted one of those fruits! But, beauties they are!
These would be wonderful to experience Ann-Christine 😀 They look like so much fun to see and hear.
Thank you – they were just cosy and not too loud!
Ann-Christine I love the jazz, jousting, and flowers! Your colorful images of these fairs and markets make them look like so much fun!
Thank you, Beth – cosy and colourful are the best!
Perfect timing for this challenge Ann-Christine! I was wondering when I would be able to showcase a few of the 300 pictures I captured at a medieval fair in July 😀. Great shots. Here’s my entry:
A wonderful post, PR! Love the authentisity in clothes and all.
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All the fun of the fair, Ann-Christine. Jazz and jousting couldn’t be more different but it’s great to see people enjoying themselves. I really should join you on this one, but I doubt I will as I’m about to go on a break. Enjoy the rest of your summer xx
Thanks, Jo – wishing you a lovely, relaxing break!
Anything but, darlin! I’ll need a rest when I get back xx
Hahaha♥
Such beautiful, vibrant photos, Ann-Christine. I love this challenge because it is fun and colourful and yet it’s not something I enjoy doing.
Here is, my possible, post:
Thank you – I decided to keep it close to home, quiet and rather cosy!
🙂
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Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories and images of fairs and markets Ann Christine! You’ve given us a lot to open our archives to. I’d better jump in!
Thank you, Anne! I stayed close to home and the cosy small town markets. I expect there to be a big variety in the posts coming up!
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Here is my take on this challenge: https://chava61.wordpress.com/2025/08/09/lens-artists-photo-challenge-360-found-at-a-fair-or-market/
Thank you!
https://sillarit.com/2025/08/09/lens-artists-challenge-360-found-at-the-fair-market/
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beautiful post, you gave me an opportunity to revisit old photos and memories.The fruit – the last image, definitely my fav, it popped up
♥ Thanks!
What great fun!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Hope to see what you come up with!