Shoppers make their way down Fourth Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids during the first Downtown Farmers Market of the season on Saturday, June 1, 2013. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Shoppers make their way down Fourth Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids during the first Downtown Farmers Market of the season on Saturday, June 1, 2013. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Another Downtown Farmers Market is scheduled in Cedar Rapids for this Saturday, June 15, 2013. With more than 220 vendors, the market is one of the largest in the Midwest.

I’m told the downtown market earlier this month had a crowd estimated at 18,000 people, which is amazing and wonderful for the vendors. But I’ve also heard from those of you who don’t like to fight the crowds, hassle with parking and walk long distances. Remember, you can find a farmers market every day of the week on the Homegrown farmers market list. Many of these are smaller markets where the vendors would love to have your business. And the fresh produce, meat, honey, jams, breads and other items are outstanding.

If you’d like to see what those Downtown Farmers Markets are like, I posted a sampling of photos from earlier this month.  The market will be 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at Third and Fourth avenues and Second and Third streets SE in Cedar Rapids. Here is more about this Saturday’s market, from the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance:

Saturday’s market theme is Sports Day and will feature several activities in Greene Square Park.

Market vendors and entertainment will be placed along Third and Fourth Avenues, Second, Third and Fifth Streets SE as well as Greene Square Park.

More than 220 Iowa vendors make this one of the largest farmers’ markets in the Midwest. All of the favorite elements of past markets are still in place, including cooking demonstrations, main stage musical acts, street entertainment and family activities.

The market is held the first and third Saturdays of each month through September. Live coverage from the market is also featured on KCRG, TV-9.

Special thanks to our June 15 Day Sponsor: Alliant Energy

Corporate Sponsors: 7G Distributing, Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, City of Cedar Rapids, Eastern Iowa Airport, Great Clips, Health Source, ImOn Communications, Learning RX, Mercy Medical Center, Park Cedar Rapids, Quaker Oats, Security Coverage, University of Iowa Community Credit Union, Wickwire Chiropractic and Wellness Center.

June 15 Main Stage Media Sponsor: Corridor Business Journal
Media Sponsors: KCRG, Z102.9, 1600 ESPN, On Media/Mediacom, Hoopla, CBS2, 98.1 KHAK, KKRQ, 600 WMT, KISS 96.5, KDAT, City Revealed, and KMRY.