Downtown Appleton Farm Market Recognized as a Destination Builder
The Downtown Appleton Farm Market was presented with the Destination Builder award on February 10, 2017, at the annual Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau Tourism Breakfast. For those of you who regularly attend the year-round market, this will come as no surprise.
The Farm Market, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, is bursting with all the sights, sounds and smells of summer. It has become a weekly gathering place for the community every week from June through October. With four blocks of College Avenue filled with happy vendors selling fresh fruits & vegetables, exotic meats & cheeses, bread & baked goods, specialty food, and handcrafted items each week, there is something for everyone! Add in live music, special features and savory ready to eat food, and it really delivers.
The Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau pointed out that as the second largest Farm Market in the state with more than 150 vendors each week, the Downtown Appleton Farm Market draws visitors from around the region and the state. When visitors are Downtown for the Farm Market, they also enjoy the restaurants, retail stores, the museums and all that Downtown Appleton has to offer. As Downtown Appleton adds additional art and culture offerings, it will continue to become even more of a destination for those looking for a weekend get-away.
Because of the popularity of the summer Farm Market outdoors, the Farm Market moved inside for the winter months in November 2006. Due to popular demand, the season was extended to run November through May in 2015. Although the winter Farm Market is smaller than the outdoor market, the variety of products available is still noteworthy. Up to fifty vendors offer the same selection inside City Center Plaza which is also home to over a dozen shops and the Building For Kids Children’s Museum.
Year round, the Downtown Appleton Farm Market offers weekly Special Features:
1st. Saturday of the month: "Learning & Education"
2nd. Saturday of the month: "Health & Wellness"
3rd. Saturday of the month: "Kids Market"
Last Saturday of the month: "Sample the Market"
On any given week, a large tractor, history fair, plein air painters, or blood drive could be taking place. And of course, just like the Farm Market, those special features are offered free of charge!
The success of the Downtown Appleton Farm Market would not be possible without the sponsors who partner with ADI, the customers who have made it part of their weekly routine, the vendors who get up early each Saturday to arrive with fresh products and the amazingly dedicated staff and volunteers who keep it organized, clean, safe and friendly! Thank you to all who have contributed. We look forward to another 25 years of bringing fresh, local products to a welcoming community.