Independence Farmers Market

Seed Library Open House April 13
2024-04-13 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Wythe-Grayson Regional Library
Everyone is invited to join us for an open house at the Wythe-Grayson Public Library Saturday April 13 from 1-3pm. The library is the host for the seed library which got it’s start during the pandemic as seeds became expensive and in some cases hard to find. The premise of the Seed Library is that folks “check out’ seeds for free, and at the end of the season bring some seeds back to keep the library stocked with open pollinated varieties that do well in our area.
You don’t have to bring seeds to enjoy the open house and you are welcome to take seeds to try. We’ll have a brief class on saving seeds at 2pm and we’ll have handouts and other information. Light refreshments will be served.
This event is free and open to the public and is co-sponsored by GLC and the Library.

Pruning Workshop 11am-1pm
2024-02-10 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Church of the Good Shepherd
Join Grayson LandCare and the Permaculture Group Saturday February 10 from 11am until 1 pm at the Permaculture garden at Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333 The workshop will be led by Casey Johnson. Casey has a degree in Horticulture from Penn State, manages the orchard at River North and is a GLC board member.
We’ll focus on fruit trees. If time allows blueberries will be included. Dress warmly and bring pruners or loopers if you have them.

2nd Winter Market-FRIDAY December 2
2022-12-03 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | Independence Town Park
The 2nd Winter Market returns to Courthouse Street Friday December 2 from 3-6pm. Please note this is a change.

The second Winter Market is usually the first Saturday in December. This year vendors voted to join the Christmas Market and Tree Lighting held at the 1908 Courthouse on Friday December 2 from 3-6. The Farmers Market will hold the Annual Chili Cookoff during the Market on December 2nd with a first prize of $100. Please bring your entry to the Market by 2:30, preferably already warm, in a crockpot. The contest is free to enter, $5 allows you to taste all the chili and vote for the People’s Choice winner. We are bringing back Kids Bucks with a twist. The first 25 kids to the Market get $5 of Kids Bucks to spend on ANYTHING at the Market. Shop for delicious local products and beautiful crafts, say hi to your favorite vendors and support the local economy.

Winter Market November 25
2022-11-25 11:00 UTC | Independence Town Park
The Farmers Market is back in Town Park Friday November 25 from 11 am to 2 pm for our 1st of 2 Winter Markets. Kick off the Holiday season by shopping locally for delicious local products and beautiful crafts. We are bringing back Kids Bucks with a twist. The first 20 kids to the Market get $5 of Kids Bucks to spend on ANYTHING at the Market.

Last Market-October 14
2022-10-14 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Independence Town Park
Our final regular Market of the 2022 season. Stay tuned for details.

Squashtober-October 7
2022-10-07 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
Join us Friday October 7 for Squashtober. Vendors will prepare a wide array of squash for tasting.

Apple Festival-September 23
2022-09-23 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
The Apple Festival will be held Friday September 23 from 9am to 1pm. The Market will be pressing apples and offering fresh cider as a fundraiser. Due to
space constraints at our temporary location we will not be able to offer the public the opportunity to press their own apples this year. The Festival also features
the Apple Dessert Contest. The only rule for this contest is the dessert must feature apples. Please bring your entry to the Market by 10am. Please be sure
that your name is attached to the bottom of your dish so it can be returned to you. Judging will begin at 10:30. Winners will be announced once the judging is
complete. First prize is $100, 2nd prize $30 and 3rd is $20. Desserts will be sold by the slice as a fundraiser.

Pepper Day
2022-09-09 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Courthouse Street
Here’s your chance to taste the wide variety of sweet and hot peppers at our annual pepper tasting.

Fiber Day & Christmas in August Craft Day -August 26
2022-08-26 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Courthouse Street
Fiber Day is the featured event of our Christmas in August Craft Day. Join us Friday August 26 during the regular Friday Market from 9am to 1 pm. The event is postponed from it’s original August 19 date
Support all our talented local artisans and shop local. We are always pleased to host our Fiber artisans, Fiber Days were an important feature in the early days of the Market and are always a great opportunity to purchase yarns, roving, raw fiber, baskets, and an array of knit, woven, and felted goods. Come and meet the artisans who often raise the animals providing fiber for the handmade items in their booths. Feel free to ask questions about farming with sheep, goats, alpacas, and rabbits, and see demonstrations of how raw fiber is turned into usable products.

Tomato Festival
2022-08-05 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Courthouse Street
Join us for the Tomato festival on August 5th. Enjoy the free tomato tasting and enter the Monster Tomato contest. We are working out the details to do the salsa contest.

Berry Festival
2022-07-22 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Courthouse Street
Join us for Berry Day on July 22nd. Thanks very much to River Ridge Organics for sponsoring the event again this year. Berry Sorbet will be available by the frozen pint as a fundraiser for the Market.

KIDS BUCKS-July 15
2022-07-15 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Courthouse Street
Join Andrea Wann and the Virginia Family Nutrition Program for KIDS BUCKS sponsored by Molina Health Care. The 1st 25 kids to the Market get a $10 coupon to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs and honey.

Wellness Day
2022-07-08 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Courthouse Street
Join us July 8th for Wellness Day. Area health professionals join the Market to offer free health information.

Kids Day
2022-06-24 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | 1908 Courthouse lawn
Join us for fun free activities for Kids of all ages June 24th. Kids Day was the first event ever held at the Market. It started in 2012. Join Andrea Wann and the Virginia Family Nutrition Program for KIDS BUCKS sponsored by Molina Health Care. The 1st 25 kids to the Market get a $10 coupon to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables, and eggs.

Fiber Day June 17
2022-06-17 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Courthouse Street
We are happy to welcome the talented fiber artisans back to the Market for the first of 2 Fiber Days. This is always a wonderful chance to buy totally original handcrafted items for yourself and for gifts. You can also buy yarn and even raw wool and if you are interested in raising animals for fiber, these are the folks to ask. Save the date for the 2nd Fiber Day August 19.

Opening Day, May 6, Mother's Day Craft Fair
2022-05-06 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Courthouse Street
Surprise, we are opening a week early so we can celebrate all the wonderful women in our lives on Mother’s Day. We will be opening on Courthouse street this year. In addition to our usual vendors, we’ll be joined by other craft artisans as well. We are looking forward to moving to Town Park under the new pavilion sometime this season.

This will be our 15th year! Thanks to Taffney Taylor Collins, Maureen Madden and Carol Lundgrun for starting the Market back in 2008. We are planning a full slate of events and are planning to bring back Cooking with Chef Jen once a month when we move to Town Park. Kids Bucks will continue this year as well. Stay tuned for more opening day events.

Here’s to a wonderful 2022 Market season.

Nutrition Day- June 4
2021-06-04 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Independence Town Park
Join Andrea Wann of the Virginia Family Nutrition Program and Sandy Stoneman of VA extension for healthy recipes using fresh Farmers Market products.

Cook the Kit
2021-05-28 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Independence Town Park
Join Arwen Cayton of Matthews Living History Farm Museum for Cook the Kit. Everything you need to make a delicious breakfast or dinner of grits and greens with sausage and eggs in kit form. Each box contains a recipe, a link to the cooking video, a colander, spices, butter and parmesan, plus fresh, local ingredients. The boxes are completely free to the 1st 13 families with kids. You do need to fill out an information form so Arwen can write a report for the grant she received from the Twin County Community Foundation, the supports of this event.

2nd Winter Market and Chili cook-off
2020-12-05 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | Independence Town Park
The Farmers Market is back in Town Park Saturday December 5 from 11 am to 2 pm for our 2nd Winter Market and Chili Cook-off. Enjoy free kids activities, shop for delicious local products and beautiful crafts and stay for the Parade and Town Activities.Be sure to enter or judge the Chili Cook-off. A $5 ticket lets you taste all the chili and vote for your favorite, we had a dozen entries last year, so it’s a bargain.
FREE to enter, bring your chili to the Market by 10:30. $100 1st prize! Thanks to our Market sponsors Skyline Bank, the Town of Independence, Grayson County and the Matthews Foundation and River Ridge Farm. This is the last day to pick up your pre-ordered Christmas trees and wreaths from Brookgreen Farm.

First Winter Market
2020-11-27 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Independence Town Park
The Farmers Market is back in Town Park Friday November 27 from 11 am to 2 pm for our 1st of 2 Winter Markets. Kick off the Holiday season by shopping locally for delicious local products and beautiful crafts. Enjoy free Kids activities at the Market This is the first day to pick up your pre-ordered Christmas trees and wreaths from Brookgreen Farm.

Cooking Day
2020-09-04 09:00 - 13:00, 2020-08-07 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
Join us the first Friday of the month, beginning in June, for Cooking Day. We make an array of dishes from whatever is available at the Market. Learn how to cook fresh, local food. Samples are available and donations are appreciated.
Chef Jen will cook a recipe 3 times during the Market at 10, 11 and noon. There will be a random drawing each time among participants and the winner will take home a bag with the featured recipe and all of ingredients to cook at home.

Fiber Day and Christmas In August Craft Fair
2020-08-21 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
Last Fiber Day of the season. Don’t miss it! The Blue Ridge Fiber Guild will join the weekly Farmers Market. This is a great opportunity to purchase yarns, roving, raw fiber, baskets, and an array of knit, woven, and felted goods. Come and meet the artisans who often raise the animals providing fiber for the handmade items in their booths. Feel free to ask questions about farming with sheep, goats, alpacas, and rabbits, and see demonstrations of how raw fiber is turned into usable products. In addition, this is a second Craft Day to feature local artisans and kick off the Christmas season. Seriously, we are starting early this year to list our pesticide-free trees and wreaths from Brookgreen Farm since we will ONLY be taking On-line orders again this year. And it’s never too early to support your neighbors by shopping locally.
BrookgreenFarm

Grayson County Fair
2020-08-08 09:00 - 15:00 UTC
Join us for the 3rd Grayson County Fair! The 2020 Grayson County Fair will be held Friday August 7 from 6-8 pm and Saturday August 8 from 9am to 3 pm at Bottomley’s Farm and Evergreens in Elk Creek. We made great strides last year with more exhibits, vendors, and livestock categories. This year look for more vendors and demonstrators and fun stuff for the kids to do. It’s fun and easy to join the fun and enter one (or more!) of the exhibit categories.
Do you have livestock? The Youth Livestock Show has poultry and goat shows in addition to the sheep, dairy and beef cattle shows. Do you raise bees? Enter the Honey Show. Are you an artist? The poster contest is for you. Do you like growing things? There are several competitions that might appeal to you: fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants, and field crops. Do you like to bake or can? Enter the food preservation and food preparation competitions. You can also enter Arts and crafts, photography, needle arts, including quilts, knitted, crocheted and sewn items. Crafts include baskets, beading, leather, jewelry, and woodworking. There are several Art categories as well.
Please visit the web site, www. graysoncountyvaagfair.com. Click on the “General Competition Book” for the full listing. We hope you’ll be inspired to join the fun.For more information, please contact: Kristina Banks, (276) 773-2471-Office, (276)768-9706-Cell, kbanks@graysoncounty.va.gov

Tomato Festival
2020-08-07 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
The Tomato Festival features a People’s Choice tomato salsa contest, free tomato tasting, Monster Tomato Weigh-in

This is your chance to sample all the different varieties we sell at the Market for free. You can also enter the People’s Choice salsa contest and Monster tomato weigh in. Prizes for the Salsa contest are $100- first, $30 second, $20 third. A big thank you to our generous sponsors; Matthews Foundation and Skyline Bank. The Weigh-in is a winner take all $100. Please someone, ANYONE, grow a bigger tomato than Jen Cavey!

Bring a quart of salsa to the Market by 9:30 am, everyone is invited to taste and vote for the winner to be announced at noon. Bring your tomato to the Market by 11, weighing at noon. Abby will have free kids activities at the Kids Corner from 10-11.

Take a Break from the Interstate
2020-07-24 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
Join us Friday July 24th for “Take a break from the Interstate, the annual HWY 21 yard sale. In addition to our regular Farmers Market, it’s the only day we let vendors sell things they have not grown or made themselves. You never know what you’ll find!

Berry Festival
2020-07-17 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
Join us and sponsor River Ridge Organics for the 8th Annual Berry Festival Friday, July 17 Featuring a berry pie contest, free berry tasting, berry pancakes and a berry sorbet fundraiser for the Market. Vendors highlight berries and berry products. River Ridge Organics is USDA certified berry farm near Mouth of Wilson. You can find their berries at the Friday and On-line Farmers Markets. River Ridge donated the berries for the Sorbet fundraiser that is a highlight of Berry Day. This year, sorbet will be available by the bowl or frozen pint. Chef Jen Cavey will be making pancakes with berry syrup to benefit the Market as well.
Enter the Berry Pie contest featuring traditional berry pies. Pies are limited to crust, and simple berry filling. The winning entry will receive $100. Please bring your pies to the Market by 9:30. Judging will begin at 10 am.
The Berry Festival began with one of our earliest vendors and board members Steve Mabe’s( most of you may know him as the sweet potato man) suggestion.

Wellness Day, July 10
2020-07-10 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Independence Town Park
Wellness Day features many local healthcare providers and offers free health screenings and activities for the community and vendors. Community partners include VDH, Twin County Hospital, In Total Health, Virginia Tech Family Nutrition, and Sandy Stoneman will host a canning demonstration. Wellness Day began in 2015 in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health.

POSTPONED/Cooking Day
2020-07-03 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Independence Town Park

POSTPONED/Kids Day
2020-06-26 09:00 - 13:00 UTC
Free fun for the whole family during the entire Market! At Kids Day, learn to throw a lasso, print with wood blocks, and have fun hula hooping and playing games. All activities are free and open to kids of all ages. Community partners include Cowbody Don, 4H, Virginia Department of Health, Blue Ridge Discovery Center, local artist Ellie Kirby, hula hoops with Laura, and Girl Scouts. Andrea Wann with the Family Nutrition program with be back with ” Kids Buck!” The first 30 kids to visit her booth will get a $5 coupon to spend on fresh fruits or vegetables. She’ll also have tasty snacks to sample. Thanks to United health Care for funding this program again this year! Kids Day began in 2012 and was our 1st Farmers Market Event. It remains one of the most popular activities at the Farmers Market and led to the addition of the Kids Corner every Friday from 10-11 while Grayson County Schools are closed for the summer.
