CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Downtown Farmers Market opened its 20th season June 7, 2025, with thousands of customers navigating the streets of downtown Cedar Rapids.
See photos from opening day of the 2024 season.
With temperatures at the start of the market in the 60s, vendors and patrons were spared the rain or heat that have accompanied past opening days.
The city of Cedar Rapids hosted a Resident Appreciation Day, with tents and city vehicles set up in Greene Square, featuring a city bus, art-wrapped garage truck and more, while Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library held a book sale.
Farmers sold early-season produce, such as asparagus, rhubarb, radishes and onions, while long lines stretched around popular food stands, and fresh flowers, plants, honey, meat, jelly, cheese, wine, maple syrup, handcrafted items and baked goods were sold at other stands.
Find a list of more than 50 Eastern Iowa farmers markets on the Homegrown market list.
Bouquets are sold by Pheasant Run Farm of Van Horne, Iowa, during opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market on June 7, 2025. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, which hosts the downtown markets, estimates attendance at each market at 12,000 people.
Launched as a pilot project in 2006, the downtown market has grown over the past two decades, with 200 vendors now filling blocks of downtown during the twice-monthly markets, with regular hours of 7:30 a.m. to noon.
The 10th anniversary of the popular Market After Dark will also be celebrated this year, from 6:30-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.
See photos of the 2024 Market After Dark and more from opening day of the 2025 season, below:
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