Looking for an affordable, fun way to spend some time outside this weekend? Check out the local farmers market! The farmers market occurs downtown in Marion Square (on the corner of King street and Calhoun street) every Saturday from 8 am-2 pm. I used to work at a baguette stand at the market, so I can assure you the farmer’s market is a great place to spend some time!

First of all, there are lots of great stands to get a quick snack, some breakfast, lunch, or even better—brunch! To name just a few of my favorites:

1. Ham and cheese croissants from the Baguette Magic Stand (where I used to work)
2. Roti Rolls: Locally sourced meats and veggies in a signature Roti Paratha bread
3. Acaii Smoothies from the Juice Joint
4. Coffee from Fine Coffee & Roasters: I swear they have the best coffee in Charleston! Their roaster is on James Island where they also have taste testings and tours. They house make all of their syrups and whipped creams, and have lots of funky specialty drinks like the Carob-Honey Latte, Maple Nut Pancake Latte, and Inverted Cappuccinos.
5. Lowcountry Lemonade: For about two dollars you can get a huge jug of delicious lemonade that 2 or 3 people can easily share—perfect for a hot summer day!
6. Charleston Crêpe Company: SO good. My favorite is the peanut butter banana crêpe.

In addition to the stands where you can get fresh food, you can also get food to cook later. There are tons of stands run by local farmers with blueberries, strawberries, vegetables, potatoes, and other

goods. I always try to get some delicious Johns Island tomatoes. There is also a cool pasta stand where you can buy handmade pastas to cook later.

There are also stands where artisans sell an eclectic mix of goods such as artwork, jewelry, pottery, clothes, candles, and other things. During the Spoleto Festival during the summer, there are also tons of tents included in the farmers market where artists sell their paintings.

In addition to all the goods available to purchase at the market, there is also a stage where local musicians perform. You can buy some fresh strawberries from one of the farmer’s booths for a couple bucks and go and sit and listen to some music for free. There are also a lot of fun activities for kids to do such as jump castles and face painting. A lot of times there will also be local events going on in the middle of the square the market surrounds, such as Louis’ Kids—an event where local yogis meet to practice yoga together and raise money for a nonprofit organization called Louis’ Kids dedicated to work towards preventing local childhood obesity. One of my favorite events is the Day of Caring Adoption Day, when Pet Helpers brings tons of dogs to the market to be adopted. One year, they even set up an ice skating rink in the middle of the square.  In addition to the musicians at the farmers market, there is also a group of hip hop dancers that perform by the fountain all day.

If you can’t make it on Saturdays, there are several other markets in town on other days of the week that offer many of the same goods and services.