More About The Market
Thanks to the imaginative, ambitious spirit of our founding members, our summer farmers markets have been going strong since 2000. Over the years, we've gone from having a handful of vendors along Washington street to being named the #1 Farmers Market by 2016 Indy A-List voters.
Today, nearly 100 vendors take over the middle north section of Ellenberger Park, 5301 East St Clair, for each of our markets. Many have been with us since the beginning. To them and all others who have rented a booth over the years, we offer "Thank you!" To those joining us for the first time this year, we say "Welcome!"
As in the past, you'll delight at the mouth-watering displays of vine-ripened red tomatoes, green peppers, fresh corn, new potatoes, and other colorful vegetables. You will also discover in-season fruits including fresh peaches, apples, and tasty berries. Available too are fresh bouquets of newly cut flowers, tasty bakery goods, and both herbs and perennial plants.
As you explore the offerings, you'll also find meats and cheeses, hickory maple syrup, salsa, and ever-so-sweet honey. You might see a tasteful display of hand-crafted jewelry, difficult to carve gourds or hand-thrown pottery. By then you'd like to grab lunch from one of the market’s food vendors and a cold, thirst quenching drink to eat picnic-style on a nearby table.
You'll also want to visit the booths of local non-profits, as well as Irvington's preschools, Irvington Development Organization (IDO), our club's booth, and other civic and professional groups. And perhaps; if there's an election pending, you'll want to visit a "wannabe" politician eager to tell you why he or she should be elected to office.
Do you hear the music of an Irvington group in the distance? Go ahead, take a blanket, sit in a nearby chair and listen for awhile.
You've made several purchases. Now, before you leave, go ahead and look about again. Did you miss seeing old friends? Have you enjoyed the festive look of the gathering around you? Feel free to stop by even if you've no plans to purchase anything but are looking for an excuse to get away, be by yourself, or just plain nosy about the gathering in the park.
* The club wishes to thank the Indianapolis Park District and especially the staff of Ellenberger Park for their kindness and support of the farmers markets.