Dan & Debbie’s Creamery of Ely, Iowa, was among the vendors at opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
CEDAR RAPIDS — Market-goers dodged a few drizzles of rain on opening day and an odd gap in the usual footprint of the Downtown Farmers Market.
Jeanne White of Jeanne’s Soaps, at right, talks to customers on opening day of the market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Cloudy skies occasionally broke into sun for the kickoff of the large-scale market, with mild temperatures, compared to the sweltering heat on opening day last year.
See photos of the 2018 opening day of the market.
The weather was a relief after thunderstorms and even tornadoes have pounded the Midwest in recent weeks.
Road construction on Third Avenue SE created a “great divide” between vendors on Fifth Street to Third Street SE, with the bulk of the booths reconfigured to Second Avenue and Fifth Street SE.
Trains traveling through downtown Cedar Rapids also created breaks in the crowds that were often shoulder-to-shoulder.
With nearly 200 vendors, the Downtown Farmers Market, produced by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, is one of the largest in the Midwest.
Related: Dates announced for 2019 Downtown Farmers Market
Early season produce included spinach, kale and radishes, in addition to multitudes of perennial plants, vegetable seedlings, herbs and flowers, along with prepared foods, handcrafted items, clothing, cheese, wine, meats and more for sale.
See more photos from the 2019 opening day, below, and find a list of more than 50 farmers markets throughout Eastern Iowa on the Homegrown market list.
Downtown Farmers Market customers stream across the railroad tracks as a train backs up in downtown Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A sign marks food and drink specials offered during the Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Face painting was among activities in Greene Square Park during the market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Musil Gardens of Shellsburg, Iowa, sells geraniums during opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Construction on Third Avenue SE created an odd gap in the usual configuration of the market in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Mator, an Old English Sheepdog, was among dogs brought to opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Perennials are among the plants sold by Prochaska’s Greenhouse on opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Grazing Goat Dairy of Waucoma, Iowa, offered drinkable yogurt, milk and other products during the market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Students with the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy perform on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Garden Oasis Farm sells kale during opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A crowd makes its way down Fifth Street SE during opening day of the 2019 Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Betty’s Fresh Produce sells plants at the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Buffalo Ridge Orchard sells a variety of plants during opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is one of the largest in the Midwest. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
[…] See photos from opening day of the 2019 Downtown Farmers Market […]
[…] See photos from opening day of the 2019 Downtown Farmers Market […]