Recap: Fresh for 50 Years

Photos from Event

Festive market goers under our disco veggies

preparing for the cake walk

concentrating on tie-dye

finished products!

Some Slow Rise flavors available

gorgeous photobooth

one of many cute tattoos done

Fresh for Fifty Years: What a Groovy Celebration!

What a far out way to celebrate 50 years of the Lawrence Farmers Market!

Our Fresh for Fifty Years party was one for the history books. We welcomed more than 5100 people this weekend - a record for us - and from the moment the bell rang at 7:30 a.m., the whole market was buzzing.

Slow Rise Donuts kicked off the morning with a line stretching all the way through the alley, while elsewhere around market, shoppers and vendors were getting into the spirit of the celebration. Vendors sported tie-dye, a few of you showed up in your very best ’70s fits, and disco tunes kept things appropriately groovy all morning long.

Our cake walk drew a crowd, with participants lining up for the chance to walk the circle and take home delicious baked goods prepared by 14 of our market vendors. There were plenty of happy winners, and plenty of reasons to keep dancing!

The tie-dye station stayed busy all morning as marketgoers twisted, bound, and dyed their fabrics into colorful creations. We loved seeing everyone’s different techniques and can’t wait to spot some of those finished pieces around town.

Our littlest market vendors also got a taste of what it’s like on the other side of the booth at our Mini Mart. Kids took turns selling wooden and felt fruits and veggies to their fellow young shoppers, and it was such a hit that the Mini Mart just might have to make an appearance again from time to time.

There was plenty of ink to go around, too. Marketgoers decorated themselves with temporary tattoos while others lined up at Best Friend Tattoo for a slightly more permanent way to commemorate the occasion. And thanks to Pendleton’s Country Market, we had a beautiful floral photo backdrop where friends and families could capture a little piece of the day to keep.

More than anything, it was incredible to look around and see so many people celebrating with us. Fifty years is a long time for a community to gather around local farmers, food producers, makers, and one another, and we couldn’t think of a better way to mark the occasion.

A huge thank you to our event sponsors, Mainstreet Credit Union and Sylvan Learning Center, and to Blue Collar Press for printing our Fresh tees. Thank you to our vendors for joining in the fun, and most of all, thank you to everyone who showed up, dressed up, danced, dyed, shopped, played, ate, got tattooed, and celebrated with us.

What a way to celebrate 50 years. We can’t wait for the next party!