Gatlinburg Farmers Market Kicking Off in New Location

It’s that time of year to enjoy the bounty of locally grown produce and plants, baked goods and handcrafted products available at our local farmers market.

The Gatlinburg Farmers Market opens at its new location next Saturday, May 17 with lots of fun-filled events to start the season off right. It has moved to Covered Bridge in the Glades, 849 Glades Rd in Gatlinburg, part of the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community.

Special events planned for opening day include a raffle, entertainment by Barry Bianchi, and homemade ice cream from Cruze Farm, a family dairy farm in Knoxville. If you have questions about gardening or soil quality, stop by and ask Master Gardener, George Denton, and even pick up a soil testing kit. Kids will enjoy face painting by a local artist and children’s book author Mary Phillips reading some of her books.

The Sevier County Humane Society will also have a booth with some great pets up for adoption.

In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, items often for sale by the vendors include:

• Cut flowers and potted flowers, plants, shrubs and trees
• Herbs
• Jams, jellies and other canning products
• Bread and baked goods
• Soaps, lotions and skin care products
• Honey
• Eggs

Farmers markets are a favorite of the “Buy Local” movement. Shopping at a farmers market is a great way to eat healthier and also benefits your local economy. It is good for the environment. Most of all, it is a fun, family activity for Saturday mornings from spring until fall.

The Gatlinburg Farmers Market will be open every Saturday starting May 17 through September 13 from 8:00am until 11:30am.

Anyone interested in becoming a vender can call 865-332-GROW (4769) or download the vendor application from the Gatlinburg Farmers Market website. The market also has a shared booth program that allows smaller growers to drop off their extra produce for sale.

Sponsors of the Gatlinburg Farmers Market include the City of Gatlinburg and Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Gatlinburg Gateway Foundation, Covered Bridge in the Glades, Chalet Village, Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, Food City, Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg, Little River Railroad Museum, Four Seasons Tree Service, Park Grill, The Peddler Steakhouse, Red Hot Sprinkle, Boogertown Gap, About You Salon & Day Spa and Century 21 Four Seasons’ Jason White Team.