How popular is the Chestertown Farmers Market? “We average over 1,000 (visitors) every week — 13 or 14 hundred sometimes,” says the Market Manager who goes by the nickname Ro. Ro says that about half the shoppers are locals she knows from the Chestertown area and half are summer tourists just passing through.
In addition to crates of fresh produce, the market features fresh-cut flowers, and baked goods — including gluten-free products — pickles, preserves, gourmet coffee beans, chocolates, honey and maple products. Shoppers can purchase fresh fish and organic poultry, order made-on-demand crepes and sample spirits from a local distillery.
The vendors include artists and crafters selling intricately pieced cutting boards, finely turned wooden bowls, hand-made soaps, unique jewelry and framed Adirondack paintings. Two food trucks offer lunch.
A sense of community, like a thread woven through the aisles of vendors, permeates the market. Live performers, a different band each week, add to the atmosphere. Musicians at the microphone chat with shoppers between songs. The Rotary Club sells raffle tickets to support their community work. Among the Rotary prizes this summer is a hand-built cedar plank canoe. The Chestertown Library sells used books and raffle tickets for gift baskets and gift packages to support the library. Visitors are invited to sit down for a game of chess.
The Chestertown Farmers Market, now in its 11th season, sets up every Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the lawn of the Chestertown Municipal Center, 6307 State Route 9 (across from Tops Market) from mid-June through the end of September. Free parking is plentiful. The market asks visitors to leave their dogs at home.
Photos: Chestertown Farmers Market
10-year-old Jay Anderson joins the Taylor Hill Ramblers on stage at the Chestertown Farmers Market, Wednesday, July 27. Anderson, a middle school student, says he’s been playing his instrument for about five years and demonstrated his versatility by performing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” followed by the Carter Family standard, “Will the Circle be Unbroken?”
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This is a unique, interesting, and wonderful event held every Wednesday in Chestertown. The atmosphere is filled with excitement and wonderful booths and vendors, each offering homemade articles, homegrown vegetables and fruits, breads, fish, meat, honey, donuts, crepes. The aroma of the beautiful soaps permeate the air, and the toe-tapping music complete the experience. Such a fun way to spend the hours in Chestertown!