BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market is opening for the 2022 season on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its site on Route 9.
Following a two-year COVID-19 pandemic-related hiatus, local musician Andy Davis will lead a traditional Maypole dance at 11 a.m. at the market grounds.
The market tested a redesign in 2021, in which food and beverage vendors were placed in a separate area outside the main vendor circle. While the redesign was initially for the purpose of preventing people from taking off their masks and eating in the main vendor and customer area, customer feedback was so positive that the market will keep that design in 2022.
“Most of our eating areas are now alongside the Whetstone Brook,” Market Manager Meghan Houlihan said in a news release. “Our market feels much more spacious now and lines are less of a problem, plus our customers really prefer the setup.”
The market has also created additional parking spaces, in order to accommodate more customers during the busier tourist weeks. Customers who walk or bike can get entered into a monthly raffle to win $20 in market tokens.
The market welcomes several new vendors this year, including Finocchio Wood-Fired Kitchen, which produces fresh bagels, focaccia, and sandwiches; and Corvus Ferments and the Dumpling Nest, which offers homemade dumplings made with local ingredients, hot sauce, and kimchi.
Another 40-plus vendors will populate the grounds this year, offering fresh, local agricultural products; baked goods; wines and liqueurs, hot prepared foods such as burritos and crepes, and crafts such as pottery and soap.
The market is open every Saturday from May 7 to Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EBT funds are matched up to $10 each visit, and customers can use debit and credit cards to obtain market tokens at the manager's booth. Vendor information and the music calendar can be found at www.brattleboroareafarmersmarket.com.