Four months out of the year, Pioneer Park is filled with farmers, bakers and artisans selling their goods at the Downtown Farmers Market. Saturday, the market wrapped up its 20th season, but plans are already underway to expand the market beginning next month.
The end of October also means the end of the Farmer’s market at Pioneer Park. However, Kim Angeli, Director of Special Events for the Downtown Alliance says this year a similar market will be here for the rest of the year: "We received a federal grant to launch a winter market, so that has been a great asset for us."
Angeli says beginning next month, a monthly market will be held in various locations around the city: "November’s will be a Thanksgiving holiday theme: eating locally for the holidays. Each one will be bigger than just a market; it will have guest chefs, music, kids activities."
And she says plans are already underway to make the monthly "pop up" winter markets weekly a year from now. Angeli says they will most likely be in a permanent location, possibly the Rio Grande Depot.
These monthly and weekly markets are all gearing up for something much bigger: "A year round public market that’s open everyday" is the ultimate goal, says Nick Como,Spokesman for the Downtown Alliance. And although it's still a few years off, Salt Lake City is working toward opening a year round, seven day a week public market downtown. "We have to grow it small so that it’s profitable for the vendors and people know about it... it’s smart growth."
Como adds when the year round market comes to downtown, it will not replace the annual farmer’s market at Pioneer Park.