The Old Capitol Farmers Market—voted Best Reason to go Downtown, Best Farmers Market, Best Public Art, & Best Free Entertainment by Springfield readers in 2018—returns tomorrow.

The Market opens at 8 am with a public Grand Opening Ceremony at 10:30 am at the intersection of 4th and Adams. The ceremony will start with a special trumpet welcome by Springfield’s jazz legend Frank Parker, a performance by Springfield Youth Performance Group, remarks by dignitaries including Governor and Mrs. JB Pritzker, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Mayor Langfelder followed by complimentary 20th anniversary cake from Incredibly Delicious (while supplies last). Radio station 98.7 WNNS will emcee the festivities and broadcast live.

The Market is celebrating its 20th Season under the management of Downtown Springfield Inc., with premier sponsorship support from HSHS St. John’s Hospital. The Market takes place outdoors at 4th and Adams Street every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 am – 12:30 pm through the end of October.

“HSHS St. John’s Hospital is excited to be the presenting sponsor of the Farmers Market for the 20th year in a row,” said EJ Kuiper, president and CEO at HSHS St. John’s Hospital. “We are thrilled that so many families in central Illinois are able to enjoy the market and have access to healthy food choices, which we know leads to better health outcomes.”

This year, the Market is receiving a financial boost to help attract shoppers of all income levels thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Office of State Treasurer Michael Frerichs through the Charitable Trust program. The grant was written by the Illinois Stewardship Alliance in cooperation with the Junior League of Springfield (JLS), a 76-year-old service organization which has adopted the Old Capitol Farmers Market as an avenue to increase their efforts to combat food insecurity in Sangamon County. JLS has committed hundreds of hours in recent years to this issue.

Thanks to a matching grant from Experimental Station, SNAP matches at the Market totaled more than $16,000 in 2017 and $23,000 in 2018. Thanks to the Experimental Station Grant, the new Treasurer’s Charitable Trust grant, and JLS’ participation, DSI hopes to double the number of people who visit and utilize SNAP benefits at this year’s Market.

“We are proud to support the work of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Downtown Springfield Inc and Junior League of Springfield to help people in Springfield get access to fresh and healthy foods,” said Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs.

 

The schedule of activities for this Saturday includes: 

  • 9 am Free Family Fitness workout provided by Ah Yoga
  • 9:30 am Free Chef Demonstration by Chef Jordan Coffey from American Harvest and Chef John Kidd from Augie’s Front Burner
  • 10 am – Noon Free Music at the Market programmed by Springfield Area Arts Council: David Tell, Native American flute

 Stay in Touch with Market News

 The Market will soon be releasing its 2019 schedule of Family Fitness, Chef Demonstrations, Music at the Market and other special events, including Kids Day on July 20 (the first anniversary of the Kidzeum) and Halloween at the Market on October 26.

In addition to all the latest news posted on the Old Capitol Farmers Market Facebook page, patrons can access these handy links to find out which vendors will be at the Market and what products they will be selling:

What products are available at the next market? Visit https://managemymarket.com/api/productsearch.aspx?orgid=931

 

What vendors are at the next market? Visit https://www.managemymarket.com/mapping/?marketID=3877

 

The biggest fundraiser for the Market takes place on Thursday, September 5, 2019. The Friends of the Market Street Dinner features four courses prepared using Market ingredients by four talented chefs. Tickets go on sale to the general public in July and sold out last year.

 The Old Capitol Farmers Market is proud to continue its status as the area’s only producer-only farmers market.  This means that all products are grown, raised, or handmade by each vendor and nothing is re-sold or mass produced.  The producer-only rule is part of a larger effort to help shoppers know their farmers and better understand and invest in local food systems.