The Coventry Farmers’ Market has been on my “to go” list ever since Mandy first wrote about her family’s adventure there back in 2013! I love Famers’ Markets. I love the local goods and produce. I love the eclectic entertainment. I love the whole community vibe of an event for locals, by locals and in support of locals. It makes me proud to see all the wonderful things we produce here in our little state. From fruits and vegetables to cheese and fudge to coffee and beer (yes! beer for sale!), there is something for every appetite and every palette. And you can feel good about plunking down your hard earned cash (or actually, pretty much all the vendors take credit cards now too–yay technology!) knowing that it’s directly supporting all these hardworking local growers and bakers and cheesemakers and brewers and craftspeople and…well, you get the picture.
So when my husband asked what I’d like to do on my birthday a few weeks ago (which happened to fall on a Sunday!), I knew exactly where we’d be headed 🙂
Since it was over a decade ago that we first featured this destination on the blog, I thought it might be a good idea to share this recent visit and some of the updates.
For starters, the timing is a little different than when Mandy visited with her crew all those years ago. The market is still open on Sundays from June through October, but it now runs from 10:00am-1:00pm.
Free parking is still available in a field at the Nathan Hale Homestead, which is the site of the market. It does fill up quickly though, so my advice would be to either get there early or come towards the end of the market. We arrived around noon and were able to find a recently vacated parking spot without too much trouble. (FYI though, if you do come later just be prepared that vendors may be running out of things by then–especially fresh bread loaves, those seemed to be high demand items!)
Another update I noticed after reviewing Mandy’s post, is that most of the vendors are able to take credit cards now. So no more worries about running out of cash and having to end your shopping excursion early. That may be good or bad news depending on how you look at it-ha! We took advantage of this new development to purchase a wide variety of items like artisanal cheese, fresh bread, locally brewed beer, flavored cold brew coffee (coffee lovers you must try this one!) and homemade fudge. We definitely didn’t bring enough cash for all the things we wanted to buy!
I did notice some signage indicating that if you are able to pay by cash, that is still appreciated since vendors have to pay fees to the credit card companies in order to accept cards. The more you are able to pay in cash, the more that money goes straight to supporting local vendors and not to the credit card companies.
Wandering through the rows of popup tents is like the tastiest treasure hunt ever.
You’ll still find a variety of food trucks at the market. We were so excited to spot The Whey Station, which has been a family favorite for many years. If you haven’t heard of them, The Whey Station specializes in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. This time, I tried the “Barlow” grilled cheese with roasted garlic. Sooooo good. This time of year they also make a special one with apples that I adore. I’m getting hungry just typing this!
Although the market technically ends at 1:00pm and the vendors were closing up shop, no one seemed to be rushing off the property and we were able to hang out for a bit, finish our lunch (next time I’ll remember to bring a picnic blanket!) and stroll leisurely back to the parking area.
We had a lovely time at the Coventry Farmers’ Market. A beautiful day, delicious food (for now and later!) and (screen-free) time spent together with my family. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday treat.
The Coventry Farmers’ Market runs through October so be sure to check it out with your family before the end of the season.
Coventry Farmers’ Market
Nathan Hale Homestead
2299 South Street, Coventry, CT
Contact them here.
Find them on Facebook and Instagram!
Hours:
Sundays 10:00am-1:00pm from June-October, rain or shine.
Pricing:
Free parking and free to visit.
Details:
Stroller Friendly: YES
Coffee Mug Friendly: YES
Restroom: Porta Potties
Baby Changing Station: NO
Parking: YES, but it’s limited so arrive early or late for best parking space availability.
Food for Sale: I think you know the answer to this one 😉 Get a preview of the current week’s vendors HERE.
Outside Food Allowed: YES, bring a picnic if you like!
Cash Required: Many vendors do accept credit cards but I would recommend also bringing some cash so you aren’t disappointed if you find a few that aren’t able to accept cards.
Age Recommendation: All ages!
Dress Code: N/A
Evening/Weekend Hours: YES – The market is open on Sundays June-October from 10:00pm-1:00pm.
Birthday Party Venue: N/A
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