June 15 Market Opening Day! Live Music, Cooking Demo & More

Opening Day is this Saturday, June 15 and it looks like the weather will be perfect. As we welcome back our wonderful farmers and many of our specialty foods and artisan vendors, we’ll have great music from Tim Foley, a cooking demo, and a visit from the Wakefield Independence Day Committee. We are also excited to welcome Girl Scout Troop 62842 as they introduce their Kindness Rock Garden that will be located at Hall Park. Wakefield Farmers Market takes place at Hall Park (next to Veterans Field, GPS 468 North Ave Wakefield MA) each Saturday through October 12, 2019.

From all the feedback at the Festival by the Lake last week, I know that there are a lot of folks joining us in looking forward to 18 Saturdays of freshly picked fruits and veggies, specialty foods, artisan fare, great music, and fun events, all in a friendly, stress-free place where we can hang out with our neighbors from Wakefield and beyond.

Our nonprofit guest this week is the wonderful Wakefield Independence Day Committee, the group that continues the tradition to bring the biggest July 4th parade in Massachusetts and 2nd biggest in New England to our town. Volunteers will be on hand offering ways to help support the parade, including some great T-shirts and other items for sale, as well as ways to become a one-day or ongoing part of the team that makes this great annual event happen.

For live music, we are excited to have Tim Foley, open the season for us this week. Tim is a talented a guitarist/vocalist and songwriter who melds jazz, blues, folk, funk and classical into his vocal songs and instrumentals. He has a delightful guitar instrumental CD and is currently working with a group in recording an album of his jazzier material. Along with his performing schedule, Tim hosts a weekly Open Mic every Tuesday at Feng's Asian Cuisine in Wakefield.The Wakefield Farmers Market Music Program is sponsored by The Savings Bank.He is sure to entertain the crowd, don’t miss this chance to hear him! Music will start around 10:00 a.m. The Wakefield Farmers Market Music Program is sponsored by The Savings Bank.

Our Market Kitchen Tent returns for the season, thanks to the Wakefield Cooperative Bank, our new Market Kitchen Tent and Farm/Food Education sponsor. Welcome to WFM, WCB! Be sure to stop by to say hello and see what delectable dishes our guest chefs, Wendy Dennis and Kate Franzetti, prepare using produce chosen that morning from our farmers.

Along with Yarrow, our magical and trusty balloon twisting artist, we will also have a henna tattoo artist visiting several times during the season! We will of course also have hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, and jump ropes on hand for kids of all ages, and the Kid’s Activity tent will be set up and stocked with plenty of paper, crayons, as well.

Now, here’s what you’ve been waiting for – the official list of week’s vendors!

Produce: Farmer Dave, Fay Mountain Farm, and Kelly's Farm will have plenty of in-season produce, with fresh greens and berries the highlight. Farmer Dave’s now has a kitchen to turn his produce into a number of great items such as jarred and pickled products, marinara sauce and dehydrated produce, baked goods, and (hopefully) will also be bringing Baer’s Beans (dried legumes grown in Maine) to our market. Note: All items may not be available each week.

Pasture-raised Meats, Poultry, and Eggs: Lilac Hedge Farm will have all you need for locally raised meats, poultry, and eggs, along with their local honey. They also have yummy jerky type products, as well.

Seafood: Roberto’s Seafood will be have plenty of fresh seafood on hand. You can even pre-order and have it ready for you at the market. Call Roberto’s Seafood for details.

Cheese: West River Creamery. Along with the VERY best cheese, Jane will also have her delightful pickled produce and mustards.

Maple: Ackermann’s will have their delicious pure maple syrup and other tasty maple products.

Specialty Foods: Coutt’s Specialty Foods with preserves, Deano's Pasta, and Habibi Gourmet Food (Mediterranean fare)

Baked Goods: Goodies Homemade (the BEST Cookies), Swiss Bakers (pretzel rolls!) The Bread Shop (also offering freshly milled flour), and Roasted Granola, which also offers locally made yogurt.

Beverages: Aaronap Cellars (wine) and Tower Beverages (craft soda). Plus, Pour Man’s Coffee where you can get a hot or cold beverage and unique treat to enjoy at the market as well as Fair Trade coffee beans from Dean’s Beans to take home.

Pet Treats: Emmett’s Edibles, with healthy treats for your canine and feline friends.

Artisans: Hiller’s Silver Studio, Sarah’s Originals (aprons, placemats, and more), Ugly Soap Company, as well as Alison Simcox and Doug Heath with their books about Lake Quannapowitt, Breakheart, and recent award winner The Fellsway.

Sneak Peak: Next week, don’t miss music by Betty’s Bounce, plus a visit from the Pop Up Library featuring great books. Stay tuned for details.

Want to help? Go to the How To Volunteer page on our website or stop by the Market Manager table to learn how. Many hands make a better market for all.

The market offers "Market Bucks" that can be purchased for use with vendors via credit/debit cards or SNAP/EBT and will again be matching SNAP purchases up to $10 per visit so that everyone can afford to get fresh and healthy foods at our market. Plus, for SNAP folks: HIP is back! Use your EBT card to shop with Farmer Dave’s first, then get your additional SNAP market bucks and match at the Market Manager Tent.

The Wakefield Farmers Market runs RAIN OR SHINE (except in dangerous weather, e.g. lightning or hurricane conditions). The market opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 1:00 p.m. every Saturday starting June 15 through October 12, 2019. Please visit wakefieldfarmersmarket.org for a current listing of vendors, live music, and special events and to sign up for our email newsletter. See wfmmarketkitchen.site for our recipes! You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. See you at the Market!