Nanaimo Downtown Farmers’ Market will ring in its 20th year of operation Friday (May 5) with fanfare and festivities.
The market will run every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Oct. 6 at Pioneer Waterfront Plaza, offering farm-fresh goods and arts and crafts and the kickoff event will have some pageantry, said Pat Swan, Nanaimo Downtown Farmers’ Market Society vice-president.
“This is the market’s 20th season, so we’re going to have our 20th birthday party,…” said Swan. “We’re going to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony, we’re also going to have a lot of draws from vendor donations … we will also be giving away free little mini cupcakes while supplies last, that’s our birthday cake, and then there’s going to be some things for the kids, too.”
Swan said there will be new and returning vendors and there will be other special events as the season progresses.
“We’ll do something for Canada 150 and we’ll actually be doing that on our June 30 market, because that’s the closest to Canada Day for us, and our focus there is we’re going to be having a little walking tour of the history of farmers’ markets in Canada, so we’re going to have some different placards and things like that for people to have information for that,” Swan said.
If Fridays aren’t good for shoppers, there are other markets in the Nanaimo area.
The Cedar Farmers’ Market begins Mother’s Day (May 14), running every Sunday until Oct. 29 and takes place next to the Crow and Gate Pub.
While Island Roots Market Co-op’s winter market will end May 10, the summer market will begin May 13 at Beban Park, running until Oct. 4. Markets are on Wednesdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Gabriola Farmers’ Market will run every Saturday from May 20 to Oct. 7. It takes place at AGI Hall on Gabriola Island and hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., although it will run until 2 p.m. in July and August.
The farmers’ market in Lantzville won’t be running this year.