BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Mothers, entrepreneurs and community members gathered Sunday at the Rose Garden for the fall edition of The Mom Market, a quarterly event showcasing women-owned businesses and celebrating local creativity.
Devika Knafo, 26, a Lehigh Valley native who recently returned from Florida, organized the market that grew from 40 vendors at its summer debut to 65 businesses for the fall event.
Devika Knafo poses in front of children’s activities at the fall market at the Rose Garden in Bethlehem, Pa., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jai Smith/Lehigh Daily)
Knafo, whose father is French and mother is Moroccan, both immigrants, said motherhood inspired her to create a platform for other entrepreneurial mothers.
She created the Mom Market after realizing many mothers felt they had to choose between their careers and family ambitions, a dilemma she also faced. The market was her way of building a community where moms could connect and showcase their creativity.
The market ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and featured diverse vendors, from jewelry designers to doulas, along with entertainment and family activities. Despite chilly temperatures earlier in the week, Sunday brought unexpectedly sunny weather, drawing steady crowds throughout the day.
Magic Hour Character Company brought Spider-Man and Spider-Gwen characters for photo opportunities and interactive games with children, including a sack race and parachute activities.
Magic Hour Entertainment characters pose together during The Mom Market at the Rose Garden in Bethlehem, Pa., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jai Smith/Lehigh Daily)Retry
Food vendors also participated, including Sweet Magnolia Churros and Matcha by Cataleya. Co-owner Coral Guadalupe plans to open Cataleya Casa Del Matcha, a premium matcha bar offering high-quality matcha drinks made with hand-crafted syrups, within the next few months at 1421 Center St. in Bethlehem.
Awilda Sienicki, 44, who celebrated her birthday Saturday, performed as a Ms. Rachel impersonator, entertaining children throughout the day.
Awilda Sienicki, 44, a Ms. Rachel impersonator, poses with goodies at The Mom Market at the Rose Garden in Bethlehem, Pa., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jai Smith/Lehigh Daily)
The mother of two, who has a 3-year-old son and an 11-year-old, started the character work at the beginning of the year after dressing as Ms. Rachel for Halloween.
She said her birthday party and story time events grew organically from her doing costume work for a friend’s baby store. She said it has been an “amazing” experience connecting with the community and children.
Sienicki announced a partnership with ArtsQuest for a bilingual storytime on Nov. 13. The accountant by trade, who grew up in Puerto Rico, said she realizes the importance of early bilingual education.
“When I was young, you would go to school and everything was in English, but at home everything was Spanish,” she said. “So that’s why I know that it’s very important to start early with kids.”
According to Sienicki, bilingual early education options are very limited in the Valley and hopes to fill that need. She also has an upcoming storytime scheduled at J’s Local in Allentown.
Victoria Cruz, a DONA-trained doula and lactation consultant who recently relocated to the Lehigh Valley from Philadelphia, said events like The Mom Market help mothers know support is available.
Victoria Cruz, a DONA-trained doula and lactation consultant, poses at her booth during The Mom Market at the Rose Garden in Bethlehem, Pa., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jai Smith/Lehigh Daily)
She started offering lactation services this year after working previously as a mental health counselor.
“Through my own journey into motherhood, this is something that I felt like was really important,” Cruz said. “I wanted to focus my time and attention and my life into doing this. This really was a calling for me.”
The doula offers in-home and virtual support and covers areas from the Poconos to Philadelphia. She also accompanies clients to hospitals during births.
“We don’t have to do this alone,” she added. “Someone somewhere knows exactly what you’re going through and we’re here to support you.”
Tracey Garnes of Saffron Soul Studio, a Bethlehem resident and mixed-media artist, displayed jewelry with multicultural influences including African- and Indian-inspired designs.
Tracey Garnes of Saffron Soul Studio poses at her jewelry booth during The Mom Market at the Rose Garden in Bethlehem, Pa., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jai Smith/Lehigh Daily)
Knafo discovered Garnes on Instagram after Garnes participated in an event at J’s Local in Allentown more than a year ago.
“I love gemstones, like semi-precious stones, I love tribal jewelry,” Garnes said. “I would love to make just tribal jewelry, but it’s more marketable to mix it up a little bit, so I like to add a little bit of cultural flavor to the things that I make.”
The artist, who also teaches art classes and painting, said customers came through consistently as the temperature warmed throughout the day.
Maria Wilder, a retired florist of 10 years, staffed the La Fleur Bar booth while her daughter-in-law, Karla C., was at another event in Scranton. Wilder worked alongside the owner’s mother to keep the event planning and decor business running at the market.
Maria Wilder (right), representing La Fleur Bar, poses with family during The Mom Market at the Rose Garden in Bethlehem, Pa., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jai Smith/Lehigh Daily)
DJ Craig McCollum, who has been DJing since the 1990s and working in the Lehigh Valley for the past 15 years, provided music after Knafo reached out to him. The DJ, who works weddings, private parties, corporate events and community gatherings, praised the revitalization of the Rose Garden.
“They’re just bringing it up,” McCollum said. “They’re getting people to come out and be like, hey, it’s cool to be outside and touch grass. Listen to music and be with other people.”
The market secured four sponsors for the fall event, up from one at the summer edition. Wegmans and FreySmiles Orthodontics sponsored the event, while Redner’s Market and Pat’s Pizza donated water, food and lunch for participants.
“Making sure that our community and our women are taken care of is of utmost importance,” Knafo said.
Though organized by women and mom entrepreneurs, the organizer emphasized the market welcomes everyone in the community as a space to network, shop locally and support neighbors.
Knafo, who has a background in sales and describes herself as entrepreneurial and a people person, said she wanted to find like-minded women who wanted to run their own businesses while also nurturing their families.
“As a mom, I’m a Lehigh native, which is really cool,” she said. “Coming back here as a new mom was just a different feeling. I had to build up my tribe and I want women to be able to do that, too.”
For the winter, the organizer plans a four-part women’s wellness series focused on women’s health, featuring intimate gatherings with dinners and discussions.
The Mom Market will continue as a quarterly event, with the next market scheduled for spring.
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