Farmers’ Market returns to Bradenton’s Old Main Street

We’re starting to feel the first hints of fall in the air — in other words, it’s not as insufferably hot as it has been for the past few months — and that means it’s time for one of Bradenton’s downtown traditions to start up again.

The Bradenton Farmers’ Market returns on Saturday on Old Main Street. As the name implies, it’s packed with locally grown fruits, vegetables and plants. But it’s more than that. There’s poultry, fresh seafood, prepared foods, beef, bread, health products, plus music and the work of lots of local artists and craftspeople.

It has more of the feeling of a festival than a market, and it has become almost as much a social event as a shopping experience.

Old Main Street will be closed north of Manatee Avenue for the market, which runs from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Realize Bradenton, the organization behind the market, says it expects about three dozen venders to turn out for the market.

If you can’t make it to the Farmers’ Market this weekend, there’s no reason to fret. You’ll have many more chances. The Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday from October through May.

Details: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 7-May 25, Old Main Street, Bradenton. Free. 941-621-6471, realizebradenton.com/farmers_market.

This story was originally published October 4, 2017 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Farmers’ Market returns to Bradenton’s Old Main Street."