The opening of this year’s Mountlake Terrace Farmer’s Market Friday, May 20, and there are some significant changes since last year’s market.
Frequent MLTnews readers are likely already aware, but this year the location of the Market has moved from 58th Ave W to the lot south of Espresso Break on 56th Ave W, just across the street from the Red Onion. Market organizers hope that the increased visibility from our “Main Street” will bring in more shoppers. Last year a couple of sandwich boards were the only clue to people driving down 56th, this year it will be hard for them to miss the Market.
The other big change is that the Market has changed from Thursday to Fridays. This year the Market will take place every Friday from 3-7pm.
Erin Lane, the new Market Manager, has scheduled the Flashbacks, a local band, to play from 4-7pm at the Red Onion for the opening of the Market on Friday.
Friday is supposed to be the nicest day so far all year with a high around 72 degrees so make sure to stop by the Market sometime from 3-7pm.
Keep up to date with Market news at the Market’s Facebook Page.
Check out the list of some of the vendors below:
Chue Ge Garden
Classic Kettle Corn
Garden Treasures Organic Farm
Happy Go Lucky Face Painting
Hayton Farms
Holmquist Hazelnuts
Island Apiaries
Martin Family Orchards
Perkins Roasting Company
Pompeii Woodfired Pizza
Red Onion Burgers
Sidhu Farms
Siochain Lavender
Tropical Sno Shaved Ice
Whidbey Island Ice Cream
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We stopped by after 6, but unfortunately the warm day was cooling as a sharp breeze brought a shiver as well as gas fumes from the noisy gas generator (or it might have been the rush hour traffic flying by). The pizza company and other food is nice, but what happened to all the other farmer’s products from last year? The vendors seemed a bit sparse and the space felt a bit too out in the open compared to last year. I think Red Onion’s doing great with a band performing but they seemed to dominate a third of the market. Are there less vendors because of the Friday move? Is the Edmond’s market management no longer involved with MLT’s market? We really have high hopes but the more robust experience from last year left today’s market wanting. And the jewelry booth seemed more flea market than farmer’s market; the failed effort a few years ago down at the Grange was like that. We’re hoping for improvements, but as my wife said to me, “we’d better go to the Edmond’s market tomorrow” (to get what we’re looking for).
I went to the farmers market last friday and didn’t see any farmers. What I saw was a street fair, somewhat interesting but not what I was looking for. Hope it gets better.