Your Summer Guide To Outdoor Farmers Markets In New Brunswick’s Major Cities
FREDERICTON-It’s time to pull your tote bags out and pull some cash from the ATM.
With the weather warming up, seasonal outdoor farmers markets are once again opening in New Brunswick. If you live in or near one of the province’s three main cities, there is a farmers market you can stop in on during a warm sunny morning or evening.
Huddle put together a guide to some of the best seasonal outdoor markets in the region, which we’ve outlined below.
Fredericton
Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market – Your Saturday morning market fix
The Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market is an iconic spot in the city. The market has operated in the same building in Fredericton for more than 70 years. While the inside is always packed with vendors, the market expands to the outside parking lot every summer.
Kristen Gallant, the Boyce Farmers Market coordinator, said there are about six vendors who chose to continue working their stands outside in the winter. But in the warmer months, when the market is in full bloom, there can be 30-40 vendors outside.
Last year, the market expanded to the other side of the parking lot due to construction and to allow for physical distancing. Gallant said she is going to continue with the expanded area to allow space for more vendors this summer.
“I think we have enough room that we could actually fill the whole courtyard all the way out… We’ve had a lot of interest since the pandemic started fizzling out, a lot of people [are] applying,” she said.
The market happens every Saturday morning from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It offers a variety of vendors, from prepared food to eat on the spot to items you can take home and cook for dinner.
There are retail vendors as well, selling this like honey, maple syrup, coffee, orange juice, baked goods, and handmade crafts. Other seasonal stands include a lemonade truck, farm vendors, and face painting.
Garrison Night Market – Spend a Thursday evening after work
The Garrison Night Market was closed for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic but will reopen for the summer on June 9. This market is situated in the old British military garrison in downtown Fredericton.
The market closes off the road entry and features vendors with local and imported products, buskers, prepared food, entrepreneurs, and more.
This outdoor market is open every Thursday evening from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m., until September 8.
Saint John
Saint John Night Market – Thursday evenings after work: part two
The Saint John Night Market is open once again this summer starting June 2. The market is a Thursday-night extension of the Saint John City Market. Check out this previous Huddle story for more information on what you can expect at this night market – including checking out the vendors while walking around with a local beer in hand.
Saint John Queen Square Market – Start Sundays off the right way
This outdoor seasonal market is located at the Queen Square Park every Sunday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Liam Friell, the market’s co-organizer, said it has operated for 12 years, rain or shine. He said while the market is primarily a food market, there are other kinds of vendors and artists as well.
Before he began co-organizing in 2018, Friell sold fish at the market for nine years.
“It’s a passion. We don’t make any money out of the grand scheme, we do it because we love it,” he said.
The market opened Mothers Day weekend and closes Thanksgiving weekend.
Kingston Farmers Market – Kick off your Saturday with fresh produce
Located just an hour outside Saint John’s city centre is the Kingston Farmers Market. It is located on the Kingston Peninsula and open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This outdoor market has more than 80 vendors selling local products. It opened May 7 and closes October 29.
Moncton
Lutz Mountain Midweek Farmers Market – Wednesdays call for a market trip
The Lutz Mountain Midweek Farmers Market started last summer after a vendor from one of the local markets suggested the location had the space to operate a midweek market.
Miriam McArdle, the kitchen and events coordinator, is a vendor herself at the midweek market. She sells hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages–and sometimes even homemade donuts, pickles, and jams. She said last summer when the market started it hosted around eight to 10 vendors.
“We just felt that we needed to continue because the community seemed to really appreciate that fact that we had it here,” she said.
The market sets up in the parking lot in front of an old church that was purchased to become a community centre and house a genealogy library and museum.
The market opened May 27 and runs every Wednesday night from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., until mid-September. The vendors offer vegetables, plants, jewelry, art, baked goods, maple syrup, and more. McArdle said the market is also hoping to get a few food trucks in this summer.
Jessica Saulnier is a summer intern for Huddle. Send her your story tips: [email protected].