The first of four Mars Maker Markets was Friday, June 23, in downtown Mars. Austin Uram/Butler Eagle

MARS — The first of four Mars Maker Markets was held Friday, June 23, around the borough’s iconic flying saucer.

Organizer Amy Brown, assistant secretary and treasurer for the borough, said over 450 people had signed up to come to the inaugural event, which ran from 4 to 6 p.m.

“This is just another way that we’re trying to bring more business in for local businesses, and the more of them that we can get to participate, the better,” Brown said. “You know, we’re trying to work together to kind of revitalize our little downtown.”

The Mars Maker Market invites local craftspeople, artisans and businesses downtown each month through September to share “the best of what Mars has to offer.”

“We have food trucks, we have some handmade jewelry, we have some crochet vendors,” Brown said. “So there’s beer, coffee, a couple different food trucks … and then just sprinkled in with the food will be some handmade crafts and local artisans.”

Anastacia Nelson, of Chaotic Threads, and her child, AJ, said they had signed on for all of the markets this summer.