First Flight Market takes off in Kill Devil Hills

Published 8:39 am Tuesday, July 27, 2021

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Father and daughter artists Brent and Charlotte Nultemeier showcase their work at the First Flight Market. Summer Stevens photo

Melinda Kelley and daughters gather at their booth, Oil + Salt, at First Flight Market. Summer Stevens photo

Josh and Christina Francy and daughters sell freeze dried candy and fruit at Francy Treats OBX. Summer Stevens photo

The Boujee Barn Collection sells homemade jewelry. Pictured: shop owner and jewelry designer Marissa May. Summer Stevens photo

Nola McGuire buys jewelry from Ivy & Ocean shop owner Heather Bowen at First Flight Market. Summer Stevens photo

OBX Local Food offers fresh tomatoes, corn, berries, squash and more at the inaugural First Flight Market in Kill Devil Hills. Summer Stevens photo

Kill Devil Hills town staff grill complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers for visitors. Summer Stevens photo

Ray Schrump brought his bearded dragon to the market. Summer Stevens photo

Nature Out Loud plays family friendly songs at the first market of the season. Summer Stevens photo

Many visitors turned out for the inaugural First Flight Market. Summer Stevens photo

Over two dozen vendors showed up for the first First Flight Market. Summer Stevens photo

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Kill Devil Hills kicked off its first community market last Tuesday at Aviation Park. Twenty-seven vendors were present, selling handmade and homegrown items from bath bombs to paintings to giant watermelons.

Rachel Tackett, public information officer for the Town of Kill Devil Hills, said staff and vendors were “very pleased with the turnout.”

There was a steady stream of visitors throughout the day. To celebrate the inaugural market day, town staff served up complimentary hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and bottled water. A small band, Nature Out Loud, played kid-friendly tunes and cleverly catchy songs and offered CDs for purchase.

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“It’s always tricky hosting an event for the first time because you don’t know what to expect. Moving forward, we hope that word of mouth from today’s attendees will assist us in continuing to have a great turnout and successful future markets,” Tackett said.

First Flight Market attracted some unique vendors. Francy Treats OBX sold freeze dried candy and fruit, one of the most popular being ice cream sandwiches. “It’s an ice cream sandwich but the ice cream intensity is times 10!” said owner Josh Francy, who offered samples to visitors. He and his wife Christina are experimenting with different types of treats including freeze dried Good Humor bars, Skittles and Christina’s favorite, freeze dried Bit o’ Honey candy.

River City Microgreens sold out of their containers of organic sprouts, but owner Brenda Raper of Elizabeth City said that in future markets they also hope to offer hydroponic lettuce and eggs from their own hens.

Melinda Kelley with Oil + Salt out of Currituck had a booth with loose colored bath salts. Customers could build their own bath bomb in a small clear container similar to making layered sand art.

Coastal Art By Brent featured a variety of ocean-inspired watercolor and acrylic prints from Brent Nultemeier. The wooden frames are handmade and repurposed from the sand fences along the beach that are battered after a storm. Nultemeier picks up the pieces off the beach and creates custom frames for his artwork. His daughter Charlotte also had items for sale at the market: hand-painted pots of succulents, painted Christmas ornaments and custom painted stickers.

“Overall, both the customers and the vendors seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was a beautiful day, at a fantastic location,” said Tackett.

The market will run every Tuesday through August 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aviation Park, located at 103 Veterans Drive in Kill Devil Hills.

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