By Heather Lusk
New vendors and a new T-shirt will be part of this year’s Zionsville Farmers Market, which opens at 8 a.m. May 19.
Nathan Meiner won the market’s first T-shirt design contest with a Zionsville-inspired shirt that is expected to be for sale on opening day.
Ten new vendors will join the market this year, with several replacing those not returning with items like pasta and beef jerky.
Vietnamese Eggroll Bar, Old Major with custom sausages and Confections by Kay are new while 3 in 1 Restaurant serving tamales will return by popular demand after skipping last year’s market.
Many of the new vendors each year live locally or hear about the market through word of mouth.
“They come to the market, they’re customers at the market, they already know about it,” said Market Master Sara Martini, who coordinates market activities and vendors. “I try to bring in things that are unique and different and maybe things that wouldn’t be found on Main Street to give people another reason to come to Zionsville.”
In their first farmers market endeavor, the former owners of GT South’s BBQ are selling their family recipe sauce and dry rub every other weekend. Two booths are being split by four vendors, appearing on alternate weeks. The option is available to certain vendors who are challenged by family or work commitments that prevent them from being present weekly.
Three Dog Bakery will have a booth this year because the ban on dog food and treats is lifted “to give those furry customers a vendor of their own” Martini said. “We welcome dogs and think that they should be part of the market, too.”
Zionsville is one of the few dog-friendly markets in the area.
SPECIAL EVENTS
- May 26 – Bike to market day
- June 2 – Free strawberry shortcake
- June 9 – Boone County Humane Society adoption event
- Aug. 11 – National Farmers’ Market Week with free giveaways
