Susan Huba, executive director of the Loyalhanna Watershed Association, is in waiting mode after Ligonier Township officials told the environmental nonprofit and the organizers of the Ligonier Country Market this week to figure out a solution on their own for the 2026 season.
The Country Market, launched about 50 years ago, has been held for the past 25 years on a 9.6-acre Loyalhanna Watershed Association property off of Route 30 in Ligonier Township.
The township supervisors issued special event permits to the market Jan. 5. But following a dispute, the watershed association said it terminated the market’s lease Jan. 23 — which the nonprofit argues invalidates the permits.
Officials for the market contend the lease is still in place and valid until December 2027 in the absence of a judicial determination.
The Ligonier Township supervisors held off voting Tuesday on whether to overturn the permits approved three weeks prior, encouraging watershed association and market officials to sort out the lease disagreement on their own.
More on the country market
• Ligonier Township supervisors tell Country Market leaders and landowner to settle their differences• Ligonier Country Market facing possible move after lease terminated, director says
• Ligonier Township planning board recommends allowing mid-May opening for Country Market
• Cheesemaker claims the Ligonier Country Market is penalizing it because it’s too successful
• Ligonier Country Market appears poised to flout township rules if it opens as scheduled
• Ligonier Country Market gets township OK of permit change, set to open 50th season
• Ligonier Country Market’s appeal of opening date rule heads to planning board, supervisors
The watershed association, Huba said, is willing to negotiate, but only after market organizers respond to a draft of a new lease presented Oct. 29. The lease was updated following a modification to the market’s opening date last year.
“We’re both willing to work on it, but we left that in their court, as far as presenting the lease,” Huba said. “The next step would be for them to come back with their thoughts on it.”
Market Director Kelly Svesnik said she hopes to come to an agreement with the watershed association.
“This matter is between our two organizations and not the township,” she said via email. “We are hopeful to continue discussion with the watershed, even though we have been evicted.”
Market director shares concerns with new lease
Svesnik said earlier this week that organizers began looking for a new location out of concern that the lease changes would negatively impact the event’s operation.
The new lease accounted for updated market dates, reduced vendor spaces to 75, removed the option for a holiday market in November, encouraged a “rain cancellation policy” and required half of all vendors to consist of agricultural producers who make, bake or grow their own products from local farmsteads.
“This not only hurts the Ligonier Country Market,” Svesnik said via email, “but our family of vendors and the town, itself.”
A potential new location for the market has been identified, Svesnik said — including a bandstand and a pavilion. She did not name the location but said it is in Ligonier Township.
Huba said she wishes the market well if it opts to host the annual event at another location.
“We certainly wish them continued success with all of that if that’s a better option for them,” Huba said. “But we are very aware of our concerns … mainly with the management of our land.
“That’s a big priority, obviously, of our mission — to maintain our property in a way that is acceptable and aligns with our goals.”
The market is slated to kick off May 16. It began accepting vendor applications Jan. 1.
The annual event typically brings in 63,000 visitors each season, Svesnik said. Mark Sorice, an attorney representing the market, said it has generated more than $780,000 since 2021.
The watershed association made $4,577 in rental property income in 2024, according to its nonprofit tax filing.
The market pays for upkeep of the grounds, water and electricity, Svesnik said.
