This Thursday at the Farmer’s Market on Historic North 1st Street is jam packed with lots of things to do and see. First, the market will be adding several new vendors this week including two who offer treats for the tummy. One may be familiar to market goers for Urbana’s Market at the Square — A Toffee Tale, and one that will be making its market debut, TT Enterprises, which will be offering kettle corn. Yum!
Getting back to the nutritious theme of the market, market patrons will see a nice variety of produce. The list of items will include sugar snap peas, green beans, scallion onions, walla walla sweet onions, turnips, broccoli, spinach, cucumbers, zucchini, and salad greens. On the fruity end of the produce spectrum the selection will be equally impressive with berries of all sorts (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries), cherries, peaches and the ever popular tomato.
For meat lovers, selections are as great as ever. Toohill Beef is offering all the usual cuts of beef, as well as their ever popular beef sticks and delicious brats. Also, be sure to sign up for their e-mail list. You’ll get great offers each week, which will surely make Toohill Beef a regular stop at the market. If you prefer pork or chicken, stop by Kaskaskia River Valley Farm’s booth to check out their selection. Pork cuts include butterfly cut pork chops, spare ribs, shoulder steak, pork patties, unseasoned ground pork, as well as deli ham and brats. When stopping by the Kaskaskia booth be sure to check out their nice selection of baked goods, flavored butters and homemade noodles, too.
And if you don’t feel like cooking, it’s as easy as stopping by the ever popular BBQ of Lord & Lacy. But don’t wait too long or you might miss out on their baby back ribs, which sold out before the market was over. If you prefer something lighter, their chicken wings are also very tasty, with or without BBQ sauce. And no need to make any hot side dishes because the price includes two side dishes.
If you’re worried about the weather being too hot or or about bringing your kids, we’ve got those covered. Illinois American water is lending the market its water mister again this season. A quick walk through the fine mist will cool you off; market patrons loved it last year, so we are happy to have it return this year. And if you’d like to keep your children occupied for a short while, Camille Born of the Champaign-Urbana Storytelling Guild will be telling stories under one of the market’s many trees. And if the market’s activities aren’t enough, there are two other events taking place on North 1st Street.
During the entire time the market is open, Smile Healthy will be offering free dental exams for adults who have Medicaid or are uninsured. This will be held at Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance, 301 North 1st Street. The service is offered from 3 to 7 p.m., with check in at a tent just outside the building. One additional event everyone can check out is the Environmental Awareness Kickoff at the Boys and Girls Club on Park St. Activities for this green kickoff event will include food, drinks, games, activity booths and music. To say the least, there’s plenty to offer for everyone who comes to North 1st Street this Thursday. See you there!