The outdoor market season in Kootenai County is just around the corner and a new site is planned for Post Falls.

The Post Falls Lions Club plans to start an outdoor flea and craft market as a fundraiser on Sundays starting as soon as June 12 through October on the east side of the Trading Co. Store parking lot.

"We have people waiting for eye and ear exams," said Brian "Kiwi" Kirk of the Lions Club and the market manager.

The event will complement the club's haunted house fundraiser.

Trading Co. Store is donating the space to the club. Kirk said produce vendors can't be accepted as that would compete with the store.

"We hope to start this market with 50 to 60 vendors," he said.

The club is applying for a special-use permit for the market and a waiver of the permit application fee of $750 as a nonprofit that raises funds for the community. A public hearing will be held on May 10 at 6 p.m. before the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Kirk said the market will be held on Sundays so it doesn't compete with Saturday markets in the area. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the market will be weather permitting.

"There will be no permanent structures, only tents and canopies, which shall be taken down at the end of each market day," Kirk said.

Kirk said the market was originally planned for Stateline Speedway, but there were additional hurdles through the county's application process.

Markets will start this month in Hayden, Coeur d'Alene and Rathdrum.

The Kootenai County Farmers Market group will hold two markets rain or shine through October.

The market at the southeast corner of U.S. 95 and Prairie Avenue in Hayden starts on Saturday and will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Another market will be held at Fifth and Sherman in Coeur d'Alene on Wednesdays starting May 11 from 4-7 p.m.

The third annual Rathdrum Farmers Market starts on Saturday. It will be held on the first and third Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at City Park through October.

"Our motto is, 'Home Grown, Homemade, Home Spun,' so we don't accept anything that's not homemade," said market manager Pam Jensen, adding that locally-grown produce from gardeners or farmers is encouraged.

All of the markets are seeking vendors.

For information on the Post Falls market, call Kirk at 262-6836; the Kootenai County markets, call Gail Cassidy, 772-2290 (www.kootenaicountyfarmersmarket.com); and the Rathdrum market, call Jensen at 687-1515.