BIDDEFORD — Saturday was only the first day of the Saco River Farmer’s Market in the Saco mill district, but from the crowd that made its way through the renovated mill space eyeing and purchasing wares from the 30 participating vendors, it appeared to be a long-established event.

It even felt like a party.

Live music was provided by Lauren Rioux, who runs Gypsy Girl Studio in Scarborough, and some of her students. And there were plenty of people, many of whom seemed to know each other and spent time catching up.

“For our first day, we’re cranking,” said Paul Lorrain, who runs Sunset Farm Organics with his wife Alice Dunworth-Lorraine in Lyman where they grow salad greens.

The market is the brainchild of Lorrain, who said he had been mulling over the idea for a few years. Then, over a beer, he and Bill Kiely, manager of the neighboring Run of the Mill restaurant, came up with a plan.

When mill owner Kevin Mattson agreed to provide a building and got the space up to code, they were good to go.

Lorrain said he worked hard to get a variety of vendors. In addition to selling his own salad greens at the market, there are locally grown winter root vegetables, fresh milk, eggs and meat, fresh bread and pasta, locally fished seafood, prepared foods and more.

“We worked really hard to not turn this into a crafts fair,” said Lorrain.

There’s even a waiting list of vendors who want to participate.

“This is pretty exciting,” said Lorrain’s planning partner, Kiely, who was shopping for milk, eggs and other foodstuffs with his family. “I’m hoping all the vendors are happy.”

As it turns out, most of them are.

Jake Harris was selling butter, flour, beef and milk for Harris Farm in Dayton.

“It’s a new market, and you don’t know what to expect,” he said.

But, he said, it’s very visible ”“ there was a lot advertising, and on Saturday many people turned out, both regular customers who visit his table at other farmers markets and new faces.

“It’s certainly got great potential,” said Harris.

David Ross, owner of the restaurant 50 Local in Kennebunk, said Saturday was the first farmers market in which he has participated.

Ross, who is selling fresh pasta and bread, said he participated because he thought it would be good publicity for his restaurant.

“It’s going well,” he said. “I’m surprised. Sales are great, better than I thought it would be.”

“I’m very happy with doing the market,” said Randy Curit, owner of Barney’s Seafood in Biddeford. “We used this for exposure. At the same time, we’re actually selling a lot of seafood.”

One of his customers, Robert Quinlan of Biddeford, was also pleased with the market.

“This is nice because it’s got a variety,” he said.

Quinlan, who owns Meineke Car Care Center in Biddeford, said he thinks it’s also important to “do business with local businesses.”

Another customer, State Rep. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, agreed supporting local business is important.

“I urge everybody in Saco to come down. This is a wonderful asset,” she said. “It’s a great way to support local farmers and local vendors.”

The market will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through the end of April.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.