50 Years Fresh: Celebrate with the Local Food Cup
Local Food Cup
Saturday, June 27th , 2026
7:30AM-1:00PM, activities begin at 9:00AM
824 New Hampshire St
Celebrate 50 years of the Lawrence Farmers Market with an extended market day!
On Saturday, June 27, the Lawrence Farmers Market is kicking off a special extended Market day with the Local Food Cup, a community celebration honoring the Market’s 50th Anniversary and highlighting the incredible variety of local foods grown and produced in the Lawrence area.
From 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM, customers can enjoy all their favorite Market Vendors alongside family-friendly activities, games, and plenty of local flavor. Activities begin at 9:00 AM and will continue throughout the morning, making this one of the biggest and most exciting Market days of the season.
The Local Food Cup is deigned to celebrate the uniqueness of local foods in our region while helping customers learn more about where their food comes from and why local food tastes better. Throughout the event, customers will be able to participate in taste testings featuring seasonal produce like vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, and (hopefully) sweet corn at peak season freshness.
Leading up to the event, the Market will launch the Local Food Cup Bracket with voting on social media stories beginning June 1 and in-person voting at the Market beginning June 6. Customers can join in the fun by choosing their favorite local food team and following along as the competition unfolds throughout the month. Will Team Tomato claim victory? Or will Team Corn, Team Beets, or Team Berry take home the title?
Customers will also be able to show off their team spirit with limited-edition tote bags featuring their favorite food team, along with other fun trinkets and event merchandise available throughout the celebration.
As Kansas prepares to welcome visitors from Algeria this summer, the Local Food Cup will also include educational opportunities exploring how local foods from the Lawrence region connect with Algerian culture and traditional recipes. Customers can pick up recipes at the Market, learn about shared ingredients and food traditions, and discover creative ways local Kansas-grown produce can be incorporated into Algerian-inspired dishes.
The fun doesn’t stop there! Guests can stop by the dunk tank, where Mayor Brad Finkeldei and City Commissioner Amber Sellers will take their turns in the hot seat. Additional activities include a photo booth, a soccer shootout game, and more surprises still to come.
The Local Food Cup is designed to celebrate everything that makes the Lawrence Farmers Market special — local food, local businesses, and the community connections built here over the last 50 years. From farmers and bakers to artists and makers, every Vendor helps create a vibrant local economy and a welcoming Saturday tradition for thousands of visitors each season.
Whether you’re a longtime Market regular or visiting for the first time, the Local Food Cup is the perfect opportunity to spend the morning shopping local, tasting fresh foods, and celebrating summer with the community.
Follow along on the Market’s Facebook Event Page as new activities, special guests, and event details continue to be announced!