MONTAGUE — The Great Falls Farmers Market is moving on Wednesday, June 5, and organizers are celebrating with a parade and party.
The market, formerly on the corner of 2nd Street and Avenue A, is moving down the street to Peskeomskut Park, on Avenue A between 6th and 7th streets.
“The new location has shade, water and electricity — all of which were lacking at the old location — and the market will line a paved path for accessibility,” said Market Manager Annie Levine. “It is also in an area of town with high foot traffic, with some of that foot traffic being folks walking to food shop anyway.”
The market takes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and has two Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) certified vendors.
Levine also added that people can take advantage of the new location’s close proximity to Food City.
“A person who has SNAP can stop at the market on the way to Food City and, depending on their household size, spend a certain amount of money with their EBT card with our HIP vendors and the money would go right back onto the card,” Levine said. “When they reached Food City, they’d have the same amount on their card as when they set out with, plus an abundance of extra fresh fruit, vegetables, or food plants so they can grow their own.”
■1:30 p.m. — Meeting at the old location next to the Great Falls Discovery Center
■1:45 p.m. — Parade down Avenue A with the power of song and trombone, to usher in a new era of the market
■2 to 6 p.m. — Farmers market is open
■Peter Kretzenger who brings perennials, vegetable starts, vegetables, jams and jellies
■Kingsbury Farms, with maple syrup, maple candy, flowers and vegetable starts
■Dry Brook Garden, bringing succulents, vegetable starts, upcycled crafts/gifts and cut flowers which are coming soon.
■Joe Chamutka, who brings flowers and herb plants
■Red Fire North Farm, with organic vegetables, flower, vegetable and herb starts, bread, cookies and other baked goods
New offerings this week will include bread from the Five Eyed Fox, face painting and henna by Paisley Peacock Body Arts, honey, bee products, eggs, blueberry bushes and recycled feed bag totes from Howling Tree Hill Homestead, and a teen bake sale to raise money for club T-shirts by Montague Modern Homesteaders 4-H.
Upcoming events include a bicycle repair clinic on June 19 as a collaboration with Drawdown Montague. The farmers market will also have a massage therapist on-hand giving free chair massages once a month starting on June 12.
The farmers market is looking for vendors, performers and collaborators for the upcoming season, who can get in touch through Facebook, Instagram @greatfallsfarmersmarkettf or email at greatfallsfarmersmarketturners@gmail.com.
The market runs every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Peskeomskut Park. Parking is available across the street in the Aubuchon lot, and the Carnegie Library is open during market hours.
Reach Melina Bourdeau at mbourdeau@recorder.com or 413-772-0261 ext. 263.