Downtown Farmers’ Market kicks off Oct. 7
The Downtown Farmers’ Market returns this weekend with a new season of some of the favorites, as well as some new activities.
The market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Old Main Street on Saturdays until May 26. Downtown parking is free and dogs on leashes are welcome.
Peg Haynes, market manager, said some of the new events include Sarabay Kids Zone, sponsored by Sarabay Real Estate, and Kids in the Kitchen, sponsored by Junior League of Manatee County.
“We are thrilled about the continued community engagement at the Bradenton Farmers’ Market this season,” Haynes said. “We have also extended our partnership with Florida Organic Growers to continue offering Fresh Access Bucks, which allows Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shoppers to use their EBT card and double their spending power.”
More than 30 vendors will join the market season offering for sale locally grown produce, artisan food products and handmade crafts. Mainly Art will feature work from local artists on every third Saturday of the month and the popular Chef at the Market returns with weekly cooking demonstrations by local chefs using fresh products from the market.
The Sarabay Kids Zone is free and includes making crafts “from a simpler time,” said Barry Grooms, Sarabay Real Estate Realtor. “It will be lots of fun, with contests and crafts for children of all ages.”
Come on opening day to experience the Bradenton Herald Business Expo along Fourth Avenue West and in the Bradenton Herald parking lot where dozens of businesses will have booths set up to share what they offer to the community.
Darren Haimer, general manager and vice president of advertising of the Bradenton Herald, said it is a proud partnership between the newspaper and Realize Bradenton, which puts on the annual event.
“We are located in the heart of downtown Bradenton and will be opening up our parking lot for vendors at this exciting event,” Haimer said. “There will be more booths with more vendors than ever for opening day.”
For more information, visit BradentonFarmersMarket.com.
Mark Young: 941-745-7041, @urbanmark2014
Opening day activities include:
▪ Bradenton Herald Business Expo, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Bradenton Herald parking lot and along Fourth Avenue West.
▪ Chef at the Market, with a demonstration at 10 a.m. Chef Paul Mattison of Mattison’s City Grille will begin shopping the market for his meal at 9:30 a.m. and will make his dish on the corner of Old Main Street and Fourth Avenue West.
▪ Sarabay Kids Zone, children can paint a pumpkin and enter it into Sarabay Real Estate’s contest that will last throughout October. This new event offers several crafting opportunities for children of all ages throughout the market season.
▪ Live music, Trevor Bystrom Duo will open the market near Cork’s Cigar Bar and Syl VEE R will be to the north across from the Farmers’ Market information booth. Live music will take place every Saturday during season.
▪ Rainbow Kitchen, food demonstrations, tastings and more are featured using a rainbow of fresh foods found at the market. This event is sponsored by Manatee County Family Nutrition Program and will take place on the first Saturday of every month through the end of the season.
▪ Mainly Art, dozens of local artists will have their work on display for opening day and will continue to do so every third Saturday of the season.
▪ Kids in the Kitchen, children will have the opportunity to gather market fruits and vegetables and then prepare a healthy lunch for free at noon. Registration is required and can be done at the event site at the corner of Old Main Street and Fourth Avenue West up to 15 minutes of the start.
▪ Other events: On the first Saturday of the month beginning in November, Master Gardeners. On the second Saturday of the month, Florida Department of Health activities. On every third Saturday of the month, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine health screenings. On the fourth Saturday of the month, Creative Learning Stations presented by Central Manatee Library.
Special events:
Oct. 14: Fiesta on the Fourth, a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration featuring live music, Latin dance, chef demonstrations and more from 9 a.m. until noon.
Oct. 29: Howl’ween Pet Parade, with sign-up beginning at 10 a.m. and the parade starting at 10:30 a.m. Pets and owners will be judged on their costumes beginning at 11 a.m.
Nov. 4: Farm City Week, local Future Farmers of America students and 4-H Club members will demonstrate and display various projects focused on agriculture and leadership.
This story was originally published October 3, 2017 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Downtown Farmers’ Market kicks off Oct. 7."