The city of Iowa City was among the trendsetters years ago when it began hosting an indoor farmers market during winter months.
Due to logistics, however, the regular indoor market was scaled back to just two holiday markets last year and the same will hold true this season.
Tammy Neumann, Administrative Secretary for the Iowa City Parks & Recreation Department, noted that the space previously used by the indoor farmers market at the former Sycamore Mall is now occupied by the Lucky’s Market grocery store.
“And we just simply can’t schedule our gymnasium on a regular basis,” Neumann added.
The holiday markets will be Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St., and Iowa City isn’t completely without a winter market the rest of the season.
Indoor markets are held twice-monthly on Sundays from November through April at the Johnson County Fairgrounds.
Other market coordinators in Eastern Iowa also said they are continuing with their indoor markets.
A few outdoor markets remain open through the end of October. Find those remaining markets on the Homegrown list and see others scheduled in Eastern Iowa for the 2015-16 season, below:
— Dubuque: Colts Center, 1101 Central Ave.; 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, November through April. www.wintermarketdbq.com
— Ely: Public Library, 1595 Dows St.; 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays on Dec. 19; Jan. 16; Feb. 20; March 19 and April 16.
— Freight House Farmers’ Market, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. The Quad Cities Food Hub Market Store, in the same building, is open noon to 5 p.m. Sundays and Mondays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The store features local, regional, natural and health foods. Get Directions
— Iowa City Holiday Markets: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St.; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.
— Iowa City: Johnson County Fairgrounds, Building C, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays on Nov. 8 and 22; Dec. 13 and 20; Jan. 10 and 24; Feb. 7 and 21; March 6 and 20; April 10 and 24. www.johnsoncofair.com
— Mount Vernon: First Street Community Center, 221 First St. NE; 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Nov. 7 through April 16. No market on Nov. 28 or Dec. 26, 2015.
— NewBo City Market: 1100 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Regular market hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Find dates for indoor markets with guest vendors at: newbocitymarket.com/events
— Urbana: Community Room below City Hall, 102 Capitol Ave.; 9 to 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month, November through April.
— Waverly: Civic Center Building, 200 First St. NE; 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays on Nov. 14; Dec. 12; Jan. 9; Feb. 13 and March 12.
— West Branch: Heritage Merchants building, 105 S. Downey St.; 9-11:30 a.m., first Saturday of the month. Marilyn Hanson, (319) 643-2044.
— Cedar Rapids Indoor Marketplace, 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 31; Nov. 28 and Dec. 19; Hawkeye Downs Bingo Hall, 4400 Sixth St. SW, Charlotte Linde, (319) 535-0516 charlottel@macaronikid.com
Additionally, fresh produce and other local foods can be ordered online through the Iowa Valley Food Co-op: www.iowavalleyfood.com and Produce Run: www.producerun.com
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