GULF SHORES — A farmers' market will be held in the Waterway Village parking lot as the first event Gulf Shores Junior City Council has put together since they formed last October.

Junior City Council is made up of high school students and works to teach leadership skills, community involvement impacts and how students can get involved in municipal government, according to the city's website.

The 15 junior city council members must organize one community project within their time in the program, which runs October to May. The students have the options to create an event, service project or advocacy campaign. This inaugural junior city council decided to put on an event.

They will be hosting Spring Market on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waterway Village's parking lot, 101 E. 24th Ave., near The Sloop and Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Gallery.

According to the event summary, Spring Market "will bring together local farmers, artisans and businesses to sell fresh produce, handmade crafts and unique goods."

Live music is expected as Gulf Shores High School will have volunteers performing in the Kids Corner, which will also have activity tables and games supervised by volunteers.

At the March 18 city work session meeting, the junior council requested approval of the public assembly permit for their event and presented an overview of Spring Market. Their application was approved by Gulf Shores City Council at their March 24 meeting.

As announced at the March 18 meeting, there are a few spots still available for vendors, and applications are open until April 4.

Contact Lindsey Hart at lhart@gulfshoresal.gov for registration information. Applications can also be found on the Gulf Shores official website at www.gulfshoresal.gov/Spring-Market.

The event is free for vendors and attendees and is sponsored by the City of Gulf Shores.

According to the junior council's presentation at the March 18 meeting, the goal of the event is to "support local farmers and businesses" while also promoting sustainable and "eco-friendly practices."

The group has stated it hopes to "encourage community engagement by creating a space where people can connect with their local school, enjoy live music and experience the benefits of supporting local businesses."

They have a traffic flow and crowd control plan in place with volunteers monitoring the conditions of the parking lot to ensure no cars enter the pedestrian area and provide access for emergency vehicles if necessary.

The event will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Gulf Shores Police Department has agreed to monitor the weather onsite throughout the event.

According to the map presented at the meeting, there will be space for 15 vendors and three food trucks. A full list of vendors will be released a week before the event.

At the meeting, some of the students named examples of what to expect from vendors who have already signed up. These products and services include honey, woodworking, art, face painting by GSHS students, live music, pecans and flowers.