Farmers Market Adds Extra Month, More Vendors to 2018 Lineup

The McKinley Park Farmers Market is adding an extra month to its schedule in 2018, extending the weekly neighborhood event to Sundays through October. In addition, the market has expanded its vendor lineup, more than doubling the number of vendors from previous years.

"Not only did our customers request a longer season, but our vendors did as well," said Farmers Market Manager Stef Funk.

The market's vendor list currently includes Cedillo's Fresh Produce, Quarter Mile Sauce Runnin' Hot, John Bailey Honey, Not Just Cookies, Sputnik Roasters, the McKinley Park Dog Park Committee, Salad Bowl Creations, Christy Webber Landscapes Farm & Garden Center and Yvolina's Tamales.

"As always, we are heavily focusing on food items, but expanding to offer baked goods, salad toppings and more," Funk said. "The one big gap we are looking to fill is cheese."

Funk noted that some vendor spaces are still available, and that any interested business or organization still had an opportunity to get a booth, push sales into a new market and develop strong relationships with the community through the farmers market. Click the following link to download the vendor application:

2018-McKinley-Park-Farmers-Market_Vendor-Application.pdf155.01 KB

"If folks want to see any specific vendor or type of food at our market, they can absolutely reach out to me, or recruit vendors themselves," Funk said. 

The market, sponsored by the McKinley Park Advisory Council, is staffed entirely by volunteers and is always looking for more help from the community. Any interested neighbor who is available to help should send email to chicagompac@gmail.com.

The summer concert series presented in conjunction with the farmers market will return in 2018, offering live music, dance and more alongside the market space. Concerts take place from noon to 1:15 p.m., starting on June 3 and running through September for nearly all market Sundays.

Advisory council member Dayna Calderon manages the series and is currently looking for more acts to round out the 2018 schedule. Any interested performers should contact her for more information by sending a private message through her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CalderonDayna/.