Vendors lined the grassy field behind the Woodcrest Library on a sunny afternoon Saturday, April 18. The event, known as the Woodcrest Collective, provides an opportunity to strengthen connections between customers and the people behind their beloved products.
The Woodcrest Collective was founded and organized by Riverside resident Laura Wright. Wright and her husband Brandon Wright are the owners of the Groovy Gopher Lavender Farm, a local business that sells small-batch, handcrafted lavender products, as well as raw honey. Initially, the pair opened a small farm stand in front of their home in an attempt to bring high-quality products to the local community. However, their efforts were shut down shortly after opening.
Rather than seeing this as an endpoint, Wright viewed it as a turning point, expanding a small, home-based idea into something that could serve the entire community.
"My husband and I own Groovy Gopher Lavender Farm here in the Riverside area," Wright said. "We originally opened a small farm stand in front of our property, but it was shut down just a few weeks after we started. When that door closed, we realized it was an opportunity to do something bigger and better. This market really grew out of the idea that small businesses need access to the local community, and the community needs access to all this incredible talent."
The Woodcrest Collective officially launched in December 2025, and has since met consistently every first and third Saturday of each month. From açai bowls and fruit jams to clothes and fresh produce, small businesses within the Riverside community offer a wide range of products for the residents to choose from.
While exploring the market's diverse offerings, one product in particular stood out: vapor-distilled water. The product was sold by Viuearth Water, a company based in Irvine, California. To achieve their ambitious water label, the company ensures its water goes through an advanced distillation process.
"Our water goes through a more advanced purification process," founder and CEO Elizabeth Akomolafe said. "It's vapor distilled, which removes contaminants and impurities that you might find in tap water or plastic-bottled water. After that, we add minerals back in to improve the quality and taste. The end product is definitely much smoother and tastes cleaner compared to tap water or standard bottled water."
Currently, one of the biggest challenges for small businesses is outreach and getting their product out there. The Woodcrest Collective hopes to ease this barrier by providing a bigger platform that can directly connect the business with their consumer.
"The Woodcrest Collective is an opportunity for vendors to share their story and build relationships with customers," Wright said. "Many small businesses don't have a physical space to do that, so this gives them a meaningful way to grow and pursue their passions."
Many vendors share this sentiment.
"We're a new company—we launched in January—so we're focused on building brand awareness," Akomolafe said. "Events like this allow us to connect with the local community so that people recognize us when they start seeing our product in stores or restaurants."
The Woodcrest Collective serves as an opportunity not just for small businesses, but for local residents as well, bringing the full market experience closer to home.
"I hope visitors leave feeling inspired," Wright said. "Within this collective of talent, you can enjoy good food, listen to music, watch kids play, and most importantly, connect directly with the people behind the products."
As the Woodcrest Collective continues to evolve, Wright hopes to expand both the variety of vendors and the ways the community can engage with the market.
"We're always looking to expand the variety of products and businesses we bring in," Wright said. "I especially see growth in the farm side of the market, with more seasonal crops coming in during the summer. We're also exploring adding informational booths for service-based businesses so they can connect with the community. A big part of our growth will come from listening to both vendors and visitors—what they want to see and experience."
Looking ahead, the Woodcrest Collective plans to shift to morning hours beginning in June, running from 8 a.m. to noon, while continuing to operate on the first and third Saturday of each month.
"We want to keep the market consistent," Wright said. "Even more so, we want to make it special—something people can look forward to."
More Information: The Woodcrest Collective meets the first and third Saturday of each month behind the Woodcrest Library, 16625 Krameria Ave., Riverside. Beginning in June, the market will run from 8 a.m. to noon. For vendor updates and upcoming dates, follow the market on Instagram at @woodcrestmarketcollective.
By Erik Chen
