The market is back this weekend for the second to last market of the year. It might be cold outside, but the opportunity to get some fresh baked items and decorate your own pumpkin will be hot!
This week the market will feature a no-carve pumpkin-decorating workshop from 9-11a.m. You will have to purchase your own pumpkins from the market if you wish to participate, but the market will provide all the materials to decorate your pumpkin. Get there early and receive a pastry from Piato café. Pastries are be limited though, so plan to arrive early if you want one! This event is great for parents who want their kids to decorate their own pumpkin, but don’t want to clean up the mess after. Leave the cleanup to the market while you enjoy your pumpkin masterpiece at home. This event is co-sponsored by the Urbana Business Association.
This is the week to plan your winter stock-up strategy. Lots of market patrons are already signing up for holiday turkeys, cheeses, and meats, as well as stocking up on items that keep well like jellies and jams. Squashes also keep a fairly long time as long as they are kept away from light and heat. My plan these last couple of weeks is to get a last taste of the stuff that won’t keep, and stock up on the rest. My freezer could hold a lot of gelato if I could just get rid of those pesky frozen vegetables!
There will be pumpkins, apples, swiss chard, pickling cucumbers, carrots, onions, radishes, green beans, turnips and squash. There may be some flowers, tomatoes, and watermelons as well, along with baked goods, jams, jellies, cheeses, and breads. There will also be plenty of homemade items. I saw some very pretty scarves and mittens last week; keep an eye out for knit goods made out of locally sourced yarn. There are also some very cute toys and other items that would make good holiday gifts (hint, hint). I saw some really adorable sock monkeys that really need a good home for the holidays!
Speaking of the holidays, the Holiday Market will be coming up soon. The Holiday Market is open on Saturday mornings, November 9 through December 21, indoors at the Lincoln Square Mall and features unique goods and decorations, as well as produce and baked goods. For more information check out the Holiday Market website for more information.
As usual, here is the full round up of market info:
Forms of payment: All vendors accept cash, and a few may take checks. Some vendors have card readers on their smart phones, but I haven’t seen too many of those. See information about LINK tokens here. If you run out of cash at the Market, there is an ATM in the Lincoln Square Mall.
Parking: Free parking is available in the parking lots surrounding Lincoln Square Mall and the lot south of Illinois Street. Bike parking is also available at the entrances to the mall and at the bike corral area past the entrance to the market off of Illinois.
Information: You can follow the market on Facebook and twitter. Sign up for market mail here. If you want more information you can email Market Director Natalie Kenny Marquez or call her at 217.384.2319. And check out the market flickr for some gorgeous photos.
The market runs from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday through November 2. All events are scheduled rain or shine. C-U at the market!