A crowd of hundreds perused the dozens of vendor tables at the Autumn Market Faire in Morton Grove Saturday, putting small business owners’ wares and services on display at the Prairie View Community Center. “The market squares and fairs of old have been mostly supplanted by shopping online, but this Autumn Market Faire opportunity offers more than goods and services,” said Mark Matz, chair of the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce. “It offers a chance for the community at large to see others in person as residents supporting their arts, crafts, businesses and interests.” Karen Kushner, of Skokie, center, was among the hundreds of attendees who perused the 70 vendor tables at the “Autumn Market Faire” Oct. 26, 2024 at the Prairie View Community Center in Morton Grove. (Karie Angell Luc/for Pioneer Press) The Autumn Market Faire was presented by the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce and Industry with community partners, Matz explained. “This event is the successor to our old Chamber of Commerce indoor markets we used to run twice annually in spring and fall,” Matz said. He said the event outgrew the Morton Grove Civic Center after October 2022 and was moved to the Prairie View center in 2023. Initially it was held upstairs in the center, but this year was the first fair held on the main floor – to allow more space for vendors. “The holiday season whips by at lightning speed from Halloween to Thanksgiving, right up to Christmas and Hanukkah, and then to the New Year. So getting an early start gets everyone in a seasonal mode,” Matz said. He said supporting the 70 vendors at the fair means helping local businesses – which could also be family, friends and neighbors – by keeping money spent on the holidays right in Morton Grove. Among small business owners at the faire were Nancy Englund-Kabat, a retired music teacher from Morton Grove who owns Nancy K’s Niche. She participated with husband Brian Kabat, of Brian Kabat Photography, and their adult children who are professional musicians and performed at the fair.. Supporting local business owners is vital because, “We are part of the community,” Englund-Kabat said. “This is our livelihood and we want to stay involved in this community.” Artist and vendor Sara Berezin, a 47-year resident of Morton Grove, sold hand painted portrait fabric pieces at a table. Berezin also takes art commissions. Other vendors included Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy of Morton Grove. “Our organization has been around for 37 years,” said Jerry Feldman, of Morton Grove, who serves on the board for Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy. “We work in hospitals, we work in schools, we work in libraries, we provide therapy.” Milo, 4, a male American Indian Dog breed, a therapy dog with Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy, visited the fair with Cristina Maldonado, of the Norwood Park neighborhood in Chicago. Handing out free ice car scrapers and Halloween candy was Johnnie Mitchell, the Public Works Department’s street superintendent. Jeffrey Wait, Morton Grove Park District executive director, also staffed a community table. “It’s just being here, supporting the chamber,” Wait said, “and it’s also being available to residents. This is just another opportunity for us.” Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.