Salem Main Streets is happy to announce the return of a Farmers’ Market to downtown Salem, MA. With eight farms and eight non-farm vendors already the market is off to a fantastic start. Not only will the market be an incredible shopping area but the whole of downtown Salem will be bustling Thursday nights. Thursday is market night downtown, Salem with over 120 downtown businesses staying open late during the Salem Farmers’ Market hours 4 – 7 p.m. including 70 retail businesses. Many businesses will stay open until at least 8 p.m. and quite a few longer.
The Salem Farmers’ market will run every Thursday from 4pm to 7pm June 25 through October 31, 2009 in Derby Square across from Artists Row on Front Street. The Market opening day will be celebrated with City of Salem, Mayor Kimberley Driscoll ringing the market bell and musical entertainment.
Items for sale at the Salem Farmers’ Market range from fresh lobsters to herbs and include soap, roasted coffee, and art work. The farms participating in the market include: Clark Farm, First Light Farm, Gibney Gardens, Green Meadows Farm, Long Hill Orchard, Maitland Mountain Farm, Simone Farms and Wally’s Vegetables. Non-farm vendors include Rowand Seafood, Rowell Fishing Company, Magick Moon Soap Works, Jaho Coffeeroasters, Nana’s Kitchen and others.
The Salem Farmers’ Market, a project of the Salem Main Streets initiative, will be held at the location of the original Farmers’ Market of Essex County, in Derby Square on Front Street behind Old Town Hall and the Salem Marketplace. The market will run every Thursday from 4pm to 7pm June 25 through October 31, 2009. This is a significant anniversary year that the market is returning downtown Salem as it is the 375th anniversary since Salem was first authorized to hold a weekly market. The market plans to celebrate this anniversary throughout the season.
All events were free and all performers donated their time to make this possible. Inside Old Town Hall art exhibits filled the building from a photo exhibit of Inauguration 2009 photos to a special showing by North Shore Arc Works. The Juried Art Show was a hit and showcased a wide variety of talent. The Peabody Essex Museum held origami making demonstrations and Arts of Gold led watercolor painting sessions. There was even a talent contest winners showcase performing with the Mamadou band. Artist Row showcased an exhibit “Does Size Really Matter?” and various businesses around town held events.
