Mushroom grow kits were among the items sold during the debut of the Lion Bridge Farmers Market on Thursday, June 9, 2016, in Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
CEDAR RAPIDS – Local vendors sold mushrooms and more Thursday, June 9, 2016, during the first night farmers market at Lion Bridge Brewing Company in Czech Village.
A sign notes the night Farmers Market outside Lion Bridge Brewing Company, 59 16th Ave. SW. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Customers enjoyed Lion Bridge brews while shopping from Ebert Honey, Full Moon Cafe, Local Crumb, Mushroom Mills, Bass Farms and Z Barn of Monticello, which offered antibiotic-free chicken.
The combination appeared to be off to a good start.
“It’s a respectable kick-off,” said owner Adam Ebert of Ebert Honey. “People seem happy.”
Live music and a bouncy castle for children added to the festival-like atmosphere outside the brewery, at 59 16th Ave. SW.
Todd Mills of Mushroom Mills said his shiitake and lion’s mane mushrooms were going over well with the crowd. Mills also sold mushroom grow-kits at the inaugural Lion Bridge Farmers Market.
The market is separate from the Czech Village Farmers Market, which begins its season this Saturday, June 11, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sokol Park, 17th Avenue and A Street SW.
Find future dates for both markets, as well as over 50 other farmers markets in Eastern Iowa on the Homegrown list and see more photos from the kick-off market at Lion Bridge, below:
A cooler full of chicken sold by Z Barn of Monticello, Iowa, offered a cold spot for a Lion Bridge brew during the opening farmers market on June 9, 2016. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Laurie Carrick, produce specialist for Bass Farms of Mount Vernon, Iowa, talks to a customer at the Lion Bridge Farmers Market in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Kolhrabi was among the items sold by Bass Farms, which also gave away farm-fresh eggs to the first 50 customers at the kick-off Lion Bridge Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Ebert Honey sold honey sticks and more at the inaugural night farmers market at Lion Bridge Brewing Company in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Free milkweed plants were given away to customers at the kick-off farmers market at Lion Bridge Brewing Company, as part of the effort to support monarch butterflies. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Mushroom Mills of Columbus Junction, Iowa, sold lion’s mane and shiitake mushrooms at the inaugural farmers market at Lion Bridge Brewing Company in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The crowd at Lion Bridge Brewing Company listens to Joe Sorensen perform live music during the debut of the night farmers market on Thursday, June 9, 2016. Sorensen also will perform at the next market, on June 23. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Honey bears are sold by Ebert Honey at the inaugural night farmers market at Lion Bridge Brewing Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Emily Qual of Full Moon Cafe talks to a customer at the first night market at Lion Bridge Brewing Company on Thursday, June 9, 2016. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Music by Joe Sorensen (Facebook.com/joesorensenmusic). 🙂