By Julia Howard
It’s finally here! For the first time in three years, Saratoga Farmers’ Market vendors will set up their stalls in the greenery of High Rock Park for the first week of May. The farmers’ market’s long-held tradition of moving outdoors in the spring will begin again.
What better way to kick off the new season than with a celebration? On Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., area residents are invited to High Rock Park as the Saratoga Farmers’ Market’s 45th season opens. Market-goers are invited to join local farms and businesses for a ribbon cutting just before 9 a.m. Then, the market bell rings, music fills the air, and vendors begin offering fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, eggs, baked goods, prepared foods, and much more.
“We are all very excited to return to High Rock Park for our 45th year in operation! We have a great lineup this year of vendors, including many who are returning and several who are new to our market,” says Mark Bascum, the market’s president.
About 80 vendors will participate in the Saturday market. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market also operates on Wednesdays, from 3-6 p.m., with about 30 vendors.
Bring your shopping list and walk, bike, or drive to High Rock Park, where, twice a week, vendor stalls fill the pavilions and spill out onto the lawns. Grab a coffee made with locally roasted beans and perhaps a light breakfast from one of the many prepared food vendors featuring items like breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and single-serve yogurts with fruit.
And shop.
This year, we encourage you to visit the market via bicycle, if feasible. Purchase a Bike Benefits sticker at the market information table, and earn a $2 coin with every ride to the farmers’ market. We also invite you to bring your reusable shopping bags to reduce waste and the market will have totes available for purchase. We continue our compost collection program and will accept fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, and similar items. We have an ATM on-site, and most vendors accept credit cards. We also accept SNAP benefits.
While shopping, check out the children’s activities like free face painting, and enjoy live music, and information from local non-profit tables.
See you there!
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. Find us online at saratogafarmersmarket.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
