Every Saturday morning, the Cary Downtown Farmers Market sets up an incredible experience. Just imagine a light breeze, birds chirping as you walk onto the Ivey Ellington grounds located at 135 W. Chatham St, Cary, North Carolina. You see a community of 24 different color tent canopies where vendors are selling their products and then you hear the sounds of a live acoustic band playing and singing as you walk past the Ivey Ellington House’s front porch. You see the vendors with fresh produce including peppers, squash, flowers, beans and more from nearby gardens, there are vendors with local honey, fresh meats, and eggs. But don’t stop there, there are other vendors with fresh bread, pastries, coffee as well as some selling handmade items including soap, jewelry, and candles. Then you smell the incredible aroma from Chef Mitch‘s table as he cooks up amazing dishes using market items. Check out his recipes here. And this happens every Saturday morning in downtown Cary.
Open Year-Round!
- Traditional Market: April – October 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Winter Market will be at a new location in the parking lot of The Perfect Piece located at 200 E Chatham St, Cary, NC: November – March 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Farmers Fall Festival
Saturday, September 24, 2022
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate fall with the Cary Downtown Farmers Market at the 5th annual Farmers Fall Festival that takes place along West Chatham Street and Ivey-Ellington grounds in Downtown Cary! Shop farmers market vendors as well as an additional 40 local arts and crafts vendors lining Chatham Street.
The Main Stage will feature music from two Triangle bands, Mystic Mayhem and Ari Pappalardo. At the mid-day band break, gather near the stage for our hilarious Pie Eating Contest with a great prize for the winner. Visit the Children’s Village with lots of fun for the kiddos! Psst! We hear Santa will be making a visit and you can get your early Holiday photos taken with our staff photographer. Don’t miss our Beer garden with 4 local brewers and the food truck rodeo with local favorites.
Free admission. Money raised supports the weekly Cary Downtown Farmers Market. Hosted by: Cary Downtown Farmers Market in partnership with the Town of Cary
CDFM Outreach Programs
- Eat-a-Rainbow (EAR) kids program teaches kids the importance of eating all colors of the rainbow. When kids check into the CDFM, they can get a EAR Passport to get stamped at the vendors as they learn about fruits and vegetables. When the passport if filled, kids earn a prize and $5 EAR certificate to spend at a booth.
- CDFM Accepts SNAP/EBT to make sure that EVERYONE in our community has access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food. SNAP participants receive up to $30 in tokens to match to their SNAP spend and seniors can receive an additional $30 token. Find out more about our Food Nutrition Programs here.
Cary Downtown Farmers Market History
The Cary Downtown Farmers Market began in 1996, when three small family farms wanted a place to sell their products directly to the community. A strong community has developed at the market over the years. The town of Cary has come to know and trust the farmers who make their food while sampling produce, learning about where and how the food is grown, and talking about recipes with other shoppers.
The Cary Downtown Farmers Market (CDFM) has grown since those three farmers began, and now welcomes not only farmers but also artisans such as coffee roasters, bakers, and craftsmen.
In 2018, the CDFM became a 501c3 and began operating under a Board of Directors and now has a paid Market Manager, Brett Pinsent. From Board President Dan Pike to the faithful volunteers who help out on Saturdays, everyone shares a passion for fresh and local products!
Thank you Cary Downtown Farmers Market for being our Heart of Cary Association September meeting sponsor!