Saturday morning hundreds of people gathered for the first Market Square of 2018.

The annual weekend event that runs every Saturday from mid June to late September is in its eighth year and was kicked off with words from Swift Current Mayor Denis Perrault and a bell ringing.

Mayor Denis Perrault with Natalie Speth and Erica Stadnyk from Pattison Agriculture who rang the bell to kick off Market Square for 2018.

Perrault said that Market Square has expanded beyond the borders of Swift Current.

"It is a community event. It's something that brings all of Swift Current and the southwest together for an opportunity at the fellowship, an opportunity for market and for commerce but also just a great place to come and visit and to listen to some great bands," he said. "It's something that grows every single year, and we are so proud for our eighth year. We know it's going to be exciting. It is an awesome event that I know I look forward to, and I think a lot of people in the southwest look forward to as well."

Market Square is coming off its most successful year to date but also an award-winning year that saw them capture first place in the Saskatchewan Municipal Awards.

Perrault said that Market Square had become an attraction for people to come and visit Swift Current.

"It becomes a destination," he said. "It becomes something that you put on your calendar that you know you're going to do at least every Saturday throughout the summer. You're going to want to be a part of it; you're going to look at the calendar and make sure you pick out the ones that are going to be fun for you and you might even stop off here on the way to pick up your vegetables before going to the lake. It becomes a part of our calendars, it becomes a part of our community, and it brings everyone together."

This year's Market Square will feature new things such as new vendors, theme days, and a new start time of 9:30 a.m.