sowing seeds. Tiana and Johnny Waterbrook, left, plant seeds to take home with Bonnie Elliser of Metro Parks. Interactive opportunities such as these are new this year to the Sixth Avenue Farmers Market, which opened June 2. (Photos by clare jensen)
Year two of the Sixth Avenue Farmers Market opened June 2, ushering in another fine season of fresh farmers’ favorites, and live local entertainment on Tuesday evenings.
For the next 11 weeks, between 3:30-7:30 p.m. at Sixth Avenue and Pine Streets, about 50 local vendors will offer their products to approximately 2,000 market patrons weekly.
Fresh produce, cheeses, flowers, breads, seafood, plants and crafts abound at the Sixth Avenue market.
“We’ve really expanded the market this year,” said Cayenne Chonette, associate market manager. “We have an entertainment section, kids booths, tables for dining for hot-food vendors - a whole area to hang out and relax.”
More hot-food vendors from nearby restaurants Gateway to India and Il Fiasco, as well as baked potatoes and corn from PF Roasting and crepes from Paprika, give options to those who want to take a break from shopping, order a bite, take a load off in the outdoor dining area, absorb some local live music and grab a cold one at E-9’s beer garden.
The music line-up for the season includes free, open air performances from local favorites Starstruck, Todd Koeppen, A Room Called Remember and Steve and Kristi Nebel, to name a few.
Organizers have also aimed to make the Sixth Avenue market even more family friendly and interactive, offering hands-on activities and educational opportunities, such as clinics on urban gardening, drying herbs, preserving fresh fruits, canning, juicing, cooking with Asian vegetables and salsa making.
