Farmers’ Markets

Illinois is well known across the country for its proud agricultural heritage, but make no mistake: It’s not all corn growing in those beautifully bucolic fields.

The Land of Lincoln is also the land of soybeans, wheat, oats and an array of fruits, vegetables and meats. The farm-to-table movement has put the state’s artisanal food producers in the spotlight, and some of the best opportunities to meet these growers and purveyors are at Illinois’ farmers’ markets. Find some of the state’s most diversely abundant markets from Chicago to Carbondale and beyond.

Chicago and Beyond

Green City Market

Chicago’s Green City Market was founded by chef/author/entrepreneur Abby Mandel in 1998 as a gathering of local growers in an alleyway next to the Chicago Theatre in the Loop. Nowadays, a visit to the Lincoln Park, Avondale, or West Loop markets on Wednesdays from May to October offers attendees a wide variety of options. Hundreds of farmers and food purveyors from across the region set up shop, selling everything from in-season fruits and veggies to meat, seafood, butter, cheese, eggs and ready-to-eat treats. 

Kankakee Farmers Market

The Kankakee Farmers’ Market is the only market in the area that takes place on Saturdays, making it one of the most popular weekend destinations for miles and miles around. The Kankakee Farmers' Market is family-friendly, providing activities and music to visitors of all ages. You can find local fresh produce, handmade goods, and freshly-made, ready-to-eat foods. Open almost exactly half the year, be sure to visit the only local market in the area that provides shopping carts to its customers.

River's Edge Farmers Market

Get ready to fill your grocery baskets with a delicious variety of fresh, summer veggies! Located along the beautiful Rock River behind Oregon’s Fire Department, the market offers fresh, locally grown produce, quality hand-made items, live music, fun activities for kids and special events! 

Woodstock Farmers Market

This exceptional market, located right off the Metra, features awesome live music and everything from veggies, fruits and cheeses, to hand-spun yarn, desserts and seedlings for your garden. The market is a producers’ market, meaning that only products that are grown, produced, or made by the local farmer or artisan are allowed. Here you can find the freshest, tastiest, in-season produce and healthy, locally-grown plants, as well as beef, eggs, pork, honey, wine, cheeses and more!

Aurora Farmers Market 

Illinois’ oldest farmers’ market—founded in 1912—is held at Water Street Square on Saturdays and at West Plaza on Wednesdays. Patrons flock to these events to find goodies like just-picked produce, preserves, artisan cheeses and old-world breads. Chat with local farmers, listen to live music and shop for handcrafted goods during these weekly mini-festivals of food and fun.

Highwood Evening Market

Stroll through this pleasant North Shore suburb of Chicago every Wednesday evening June through August during the Highwood Evening Market. The town comes alive with this outdoor soiree in Everts Park, complete with goods from farmers, locally made cheeses, pastas, pastries, jams, honey, oils and sauces. Make a night of it by sampling food and drinks from local restaurants, dancing under the charming gazebo hosting local bands, and indulging the kiddos with activities such as face painting and pony rides.

Rockford City Market

This evening market draws crowds from across the area to downtown Rockford every Friday from late May through September. Bushels, barrels and booths overflow with farm-fresh produce from local growers such as Gustafson Farms and Orchard Ridge Farms. Artists show off their jewelry and woodcrafts to the mingling masses. Adding to the convivial neighborhood atmosphere is a packed roster of live music, kids’ entertainment and food demos. 

Elawa Farm Garden Market 

Continue your North Shore market excursion in Lake Forest, one of Chicago’s most established and scenic suburbs. Elawa Farm, a pastoral 16-acre property styled in the manner of an early 20th-century gentleman’s farm in the heart of town, hosts a weekly garden market Fridays and Saturdays from mid-May through October. An array of seasonal veggies and fresh-cut flowers grown on the farm are on offer, as well as treats from The Kitchen, Elawa Farm’s restaurant featuring farm-to-table cuisine.

Great Rivers Country

Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market

Homegrown and handmade are the buzzwords at this sprawling Southwest Illinois market. Held Saturdays from May through mid-October, this popular downtown Alton event is a hub of activity thanks to a wide variety of locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables, including heirloom varieties and organic crops. Once you’ve stocked up on produce, browse stand after stand of fresh flowers and plants, grass-fed meats, local honey and baked goods from River City Savories. Artwork and gift items such as stained glass, pottery and handmade soaps add even more flavor to this feast for the senses.

Peoria RiverFront Market 

The adage “shop local” takes on even more meaning at this marketplace, where locals and visitors alike gather to discover what’s in season each week. You may even spy a chef or two browsing the stalls for their evening’s ingredients! Hundreds of vendors from the region gather along the RiverFront every Saturday morning from late May to late September, presenting everything from ripe fruits and veggies to farm-fresh eggs, local meats, artisan breads and handmade cheeses.

Twin City Farmers Market

Hosting 20+ year-round vendors and even more seasonal vendors, the market's offerings include locally raised beef, pork, free-range chicken and eggs; homegrown produce; organic herbs; honey, jams, jellies and sauces; a wide variety of baked goods, including pies, bread, cookies and cakes; locally made soaps and candles; knitted items; local photography; jewelry; crafts; and artwork. The market is open weekly on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until noon.
 

Land of Lincoln

Old State Capitol Farmers Market 

For nearly 25 years, Springfield has been a gathering spot for Illinois farmers to sell their goods at the Old State Capitol Farmers Market. This year’s market hosts more than 50 vendors in downtown Springfield every Wednesday and Saturday from mid-May through October. Shop an abundance of produce, cheeses, baked goods and meats, as well as covetable items from local artisans. Chef demos will inspire you with culinary concepts for what to do with all of those yummy ingredients you just picked up. 

Urbana’s Market at the Square 

Since 1979, Urbana’s Market at the Square has brought the community together to connect with local growers and artisans, fostering a sense of community. Thousands of people congregate every week at this downtown event, which starts in May and continues through October. One of Illinois’ largest and most diverse farmers’ markets, Urbana’s Market at the Square hosts more than 150 vendors who bring with them fresh produce, meat, dairy products, honey, local beer and wine, flowers and handmade arts and crafts, all for your browsing and buying pleasure.

Downtown Bloomington Farmers' Market

The Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market is a producer-only market offering a variety of farm products, including vegetables, fruits, cheeses, pork, beef, free-range poultry and eggs, flowers, plants, herbs and more. The purpose of this market is to help energize Downtown Bloomington by providing a forum where urban residents can deal directly with the farmers who grow their food products, increasing their knowledge and appreciation for the quality and benefits of locally grown and produced products.