On Saturday, June 6, the city of Aurora will welcome back the longest-running farmers market in the state for its 115th season.
The market returns to its usual location at 65 S. Water St. from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays from June 6 to Oct. 3. It will not be open on Saturday, July 4.
In a press release, Aurora Farmers Market manager Felicia Freitag said the city is “looking forward to welcoming a diverse array of vendors and visitors to downtown Aurora for this yearly summer staple,” which is expected to feature more than 50 vendors per week from a pool of about 80 that will be a part of the market this year.
“We’ll have between 50 and 60 vendors each week,” Freitag said. “Some will come once a month, and others every other week. About a quarter will be rotating, while the rest will be there weekly.”
Old favorites like Strawberries BBQ, Michigan’s Lopez Farms, Dick’s Mini-Donuts and Soulshine Farm will be back along with “at least 15 new vendors,” Freitag said.
“Some of our new ones include some farms we’ve added based on surveys we’ve offered to patrons,” she said. “There’s been a request for more fresh local produce and we have a couple of farms including Microcosm Farm from Shabbona who have produce and sauerkrauts and kimchi which we’ve never had before.”
Another new vendor is Rainbow Flock ‘N Farm out of Sycamore which will be selling poultry, jams, jellies, baked goods and eggs.
Avocado Theory “will be offering a customized guacamole bar at the market,” Freitag said.
“They have an actual food truck that does different avocado-based snacks and entrees, but at the market they’re doing the customized bowls,” she said.
The market will again be offering programs on a regular basis throughout the summer, officials said.
The city’s press release notes there will be a Community Planting Day on June 13, a Touch-A-Truck event on July 25, a National Farmers Market Week Celebration on Aug. 8, Dog Appreciation Day on Aug. 29 and Farmers Market Fiesta on Sept. 12. Each theme day will feature special giveaways and activities for market visitors, organizers said.
Freitag said the market averages 800 to 1,200 visitors a week and draws “draws mostly from Aurora, Montgomery, Oswego and Naperville.”
There will be free parking available this year at the nearby parking garage during the hours of the market.
“This is something that will be done on the honor system,” Freitag said. “We just want to make sure we have enough space for our patrons.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
