It’s finally Farmer’s Market season in Bradenton, and we couldn’t be more excited!

The Downtown Bradenton Farmer’s Market on Old Main Street begins on Saturday, October 5th from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and continues every Saturday through May. This season promises to be one of the best ever, with nine new vendors joining the market!

You’ll love visiting the 30+ vendors selling fresh produce, prepared foods, artisan goods, and more — but that’s not all! Throughout the season, there will also be a ton of fun events and activities, live music, cooking demos and more. Want to know more about exactly what you can expect this year? Keep reading!

Bradenton Farmer’s Market Vendors

Farm-Fresh Produce

♦  Sheppard Farms – one of the oldest farms in Florida and a participant in the Downtown Farmer’s Market for 20 years! Here you’ll find fresh produce including strawberries, squash, beans, sweet onions, hand-shelled peas, okra, mustard, collard, and turnip greens.

♦ Come Under the Yum Yum Tree – these vendors visit state-run produce markets to gather up the area’s finest produce and bring it to our community.

♦ Milagros Produce – the owners of this produce stand buy their goods from local farmers and from vendors across the state. 

Prepared Foods

♦ Banyan Coffee Company – providing fresh coffee beans roasted right and Bradenton and ground to order.

♦ Jay’s Italian Olive Salad – enjoy an olive-oil based sliced olive salad perfect for snacking or making your own New-Orleans-style muffaletta sandwich.

♦  Olive Branch and More – a Farmer’s Market favorite, this vendor imports delicious olive oils from his family farm in Italy and also sells a variety of premium vinegars, dipping mixes, amazing baked goods, and more.

♦ Pure Florida Honey – your source for fresh, local raw honey straight from the hive to the bottle.

♦  Sunshine Canning – here you’ll find handcrafted jams and pickles made from locally-sourced products.

♦  Kettle Corn & Nuts – delicious kettle corn and spiced nuts make a great snack any time!

♦  Leah’s Lemonade – all-natural lemonade and smoothies offer visitors the ultimate refreshment on a hot Florida day!

♦  Marilyn’s Toffee & More – if you have a sweet tooth, you’ll love these tempting treats.

Local Vendors & Services

♦ Medallion Flowers – treat yourself to some fresh-cut sunflowers, roses, lilies, hydrangeas, and more. 

♦ Wolfheart Herbals – here you’ll find specialty teas, 40+ bulk, dried herbs, and bath bags.

♦ Alcover Massage – beautiful crystals, gemstones, and salt lamps for sale, plus chair massages! 

♦ Boston’s Baked Bones – natural organic dog treats.

♦ Naturally Green Products – USDA certified, naturally green cleaning products.

♦ Papaya Tree Imports – harem pants imported from Thailand and hand-crocheted halter tops.

♦ Paua Creations – beautifully designed abalone jewelry and custom made cloth handbags.

♦ She Paints on Glass – artistic hand-painted glassware.

♦ The Wellness Center of Ellenton – CBD products.

♦ Van’s Sharpening Services – handling all your sharpening needs, from knives to lawnmower blades and more.

Events and Activities

In addition to tons of great vendors, the Bradenton Farmer’s Market is also packed full with special events throughout the season. Here’s what you can expect!

Chef’s Demonstrations

Every week at 10 a.m., you’ll have the chance to enjoy a live cooking demo by some of the area’s best chefs and enjoy tasty samples! Chef Gaetano Cannata from Ortygia restaurant will be there on the third Saturday of every month, and Chef Dave Shiplett from Bird Rock Taco Shack will demo on the fourth Saturday of every month.

On the first and second Saturday, enjoy a variety of popular local chefs including Gerard Jesse from Seafood Shack, Owner Brianna Dine-Stisser of Daily Dose Juice Garden, Chef Scott Cardenas of Mattison’s City Grille, Bradenton Riverwalk, Chef Clayton Parrett of Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy, Owner Ashley Ciferno of The Fermented Vegan, and more!

Family & Health Events 

Local community partners will present health and wellness events every week.

♥ Master Gardeners – on the first Saturday of the month, Manatee Master Gardeners will be at the market to teach you more about growing plants in the Florida climate.

♥ Live Well – on the second Saturday, the Florida Department of Health presents family-oriented health and wellness activities.

♥ Creative Learning Station – on the third Saturday of the Month, Manatee Public Libraries presents storytelling and interactive learning for children and their families.

♥ Kids in the Kitchen – at 12 p.m. each week, Junior League helps kids gather up a “shopping list” of items from the market and use them to create a healthy snack. This is a FREE event, but parents must register their kids at the chef’s booth (corner of Old Main Street and Fourth Ave. W.) at least 15 minutes prior to the start.

Mainly Art 

Beginning on October 19th and continuing every third Saturday of each month through May, “Mainly Art” expands from the Farmer’s Market down 4th Street. Here you’ll find unique creations from dozens of local artists and craftspeople. Come on down and support our local art community!

Live Music

The Farmer’s Market also features live entertainment every week! The first week will kick off with Trevor Bystrom and Syl Vee R. Check out Realize Bradenton’s website for the rest of the season’s lineup!

Special Events 

There will also be several special events throughout the season that you won’t want to miss! This kicks off with the Howl’ween Pet Parade and Costume Contest on October 26th. This event is a fundraiser for the Friends of Manatee County Animal Services. Suggested donation to enter is $5. Dress your perfect pooch up in his best costume and see if he has what it takes to win a prize! You must register by 10 a.m. and the pet parade will begin at 10:30.

On November 9th, there will be special events going on to celebrate Farm-City Week with the Future Farmers of America and 4H Clubs.

Mark your calendars for March 7th, 2020 for the unforgettable ArtSlam event. Watch as students and creatives take their art out of the classroom and studios and into the streets. This annual event is definitely one you won’t want to miss.

If you have little ones, you’ll also want to make sure you don’t miss the Children’s Book Fair and Family Fun Day on April 4th, 2020.

Getting There

The Bradenton Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday from May through October from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. It’s located on 12th St. West (Old Main Street). Parking is free on weekends and well-behaved dogs on leashes are always welcome. For detailed information about each week’s chefs, musical performers, and more, visit the Realize Bradenton website and follow the Bradenton Farmer’s Market on Facebook.

While you’re there, don’t forget to visit some of the excellent cafes, restaurants, and shops located in our thriving downtown area. It’s also a short walk from the beautiful Bradenton Riverwalk, which features a skate park, splash pad, day dock, and more.