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The summer season brings the return of many things to the Kenai Peninsula, and other than salmon, one of the most looked forward to is the return of the summer outdoor markets.

"This will be our third weekend this season," said Harold Piland, organizer of Kenai's Saturday Market, which takes place on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in front of the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center. The market runs through Sept. 12.

"This is or fifth year and it's grown every year. At present time, we've got 29 vendors, but it increases throughout the year. We usually end up with an average of about 47," Piland said.

The Kenai market does have specific vendor criteria, compared to some of the other outdoor markers in the area.

"We don't allow any used stuff and we specify that 50 percent or more of what vendors are offering, must be Alaskan-made crafts or Alaska-grown fruits and vegetables," he said.

For more information on the Kenai market, call 283-1991.

For those who can't wait from one weekend to the next to do their shopping, the Soldotna Wednesday Market, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Soldotna Creek Park behind the Don Jose restaurant, also has a lot to offer.

"We have live music, a petting zoo and a huge variety of vendors," said organizer Annette Villa.

This will be the third summer the Wednesday market has made an appearance, and Villa said it keeps growing and getting better every year.

"I wanted to make it a place where families could come and not just shop, but have fun and hang out by the river," she said.

However, that's not to say the shopping opportunities aren't superb.

"It's a good middle of the week market to give the community and tourists an opportunity to pick up local things and fresh Alaskan-grown vegetables. My brother and sister-in-law are farmers up in the (Mat-Su) valley, so I run up there on weekends and come down with fresh vegetables, and we have other vendors with locally grown vegetables and flower baskets," she said.

The Wednesday market will run every week from now through September. For more information, call 252-7264.

Farther to the south, the Kasilof Flea and Farmers Market, is the newest addition to the outdoor market scene. Located at Mile 111 of the Sterling Highway, on the corner of north Cohoe Loop Road behind the Jersey Subs bus, the market takes place every Friday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"We'll be there through Labor Day," said organizer Shawna Wolk.

The Kasilof market began after Wolk heard from numerous people who had wares they were looking to sell.

"It's just a place for people to pull up, park and sell their stuff. Vendors are provided space, but they bring their own tents, tables and goods," she said.

So far the market has largely had around a dozen vendors selling mostly "flea items," according to Wolk.

"People have been bringing stuff they have for sale and setting it up like a garage sale without the garage. There are all kinds of things. Last week we had a woman selling her entire doll collection. The week before we had someone with a bunch of flats of seedling starters, flowers and hanging baskets, that they traded for a horse," she said.

Wolk said she herself also sells farm fresh eggs by the dozen, and she is hoping that further into summer, more local farmers will bring their garden grown goodies.

"I like organic, so I'd like to see more people trying a hand at that," she said.

Anyone who would like to be a vendor can contact Wolk to make arrangements. The price to lease space is $7 a day for 10-feet by 10-feet, or $10 a day for 10-feet by 20-feet, but for all three-days there is a discount of $15 and $25, respectively.

"It's a good deal. There's good highway frontage, and a lot of traffic going by and going down Cohoe Loop," she said.

For more information on the Kasilof market, call 252-1120.

Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.