Republic file photo Lily Starr at VanAntwerp’s Farm Market Booth is shown at last year’s Columbus Farmers Market behind City Hall.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The weather is predicted to cooperate for today’s opening of the Columbus Farmers Market along First Street behind Columbus City Hall.
Forecasters are predicting overcast skies with little chance of precipitation and temperatures in the more-than-comfortable low 60s for the return of the summer market.
Which makes for a fairly sunny start to a season that stretches from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 17, mostly rain or shine, short of lightning.
Organizers say more than 50 vendors, many of whom are produce growers who enjoyed a solid early spring season, will be present. Moreover, there will be freshly prepared food to go, baked goods, plus Mother’s Day freshly cut flowers and plants, arts and crafts, and other items.
“Usually, May is not the best for produce,” said Jacob Hendricks, program manager for the market. But he said the past couple of months have proven otherwise.
There are 100 vendors total, including full-time and part-time participants, signed up throughout the spring and summer.
Last summer, about 1,500 people attended weekly to browse, buy, eat listen to live music or to visit with friends, Hendricks said. That attendance sounds even better than it normally might to organizers because the pandemic in 2020 limited or even cancelled so many public events.
And the 2020 market was limited because of safety concerns to about 20 to 25 vendors which in turn resulted in smaller crowds of about 400 people weekly.
The market, which often offers the festive feel of a casual street fair, considering its food aroma and live music elements, also has been a way in the spring for people to see friends they missed during the winter.
Musician Jon Shoulders, who performs acoustic cover tunes, will provide entertainment today, followed by local, veteran bluegrass performer Lynn Martin on May 14.
