We think a trip to a fall farmers market trumps a traditional grocery run any day of the week. There is nothing more inspiring than the stacks of brightly-colored autumn produce just waiting to be turned into cozy family dinners. Instead of sweating it out under the sun in June, July and August, fall farmers markets offer cooler weather, ripe tomatoes, local honey, eggs, canned jellies and jams, and more.
Here are 8 fall farmers markets in the Twin Cities we think go above and beyond by offering not only a fresh selection of food, but an atmosphere that will appeal to the youngest shoppers.
And speaking of those youngest shoppers and diners: any picky ones in your crew? Have you ever come home from the market bursting with beautiful veggies only to have them left cold and alone on little dinner plates? To cut down on those sad trips to the compost bin, we’ve added in some pro tips for getting kids to eat more vegetables. Check each market entry for another great idea to get kids to gobble up those veggies.
Twin Cities Fall Farmers Markets
Bloomington Farmers Market
1800 W Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431
Days & Times: Saturdays, 8am-1pm thru October 14, 2023
Family fun: Take in live music. Kids ages 5-12 can participate in the Power of Produce (POP) Club at the market. This typically means they can score some of the freshest produce for FREE simply by trying a new vegetable.Â
Eat more veggies: When shopping, task kids with choosing a vegetable for the family meal. Once home, look up a simple recipe they can help prepare. They’ll be proud (or at least more likely) to gobble down their own creation.
Make a day: Less than two miles from the market are two great family outings: The Works Museum – filled with hands-on engineering exhibits for kids and the Normandale Japanese Garden, which is free to visit and hosts a Japanese Garden Festival in mid-September.
Fulton Farmers Market
4901 Chowen Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Days & Times: Saturdays, 8:30am-12:30pm thru October 28, 2023
Family fun: Enjoy live music every weekend and occasional family activities at this fall farmers market. Merchants range from agricultural to arts and crafts.
Eat more veggies: Tasty studies show kids are more likely to eat their veggies paired with a dip or dressing. This could be as simple as placing a bottle of ranch on the table. Or try dressing up your market haul with a homemade recipe for hummus.
Make a day: Less than 10 minutes from the market lies the charming Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis, home to the critter-filled Wild Rumpus Books and Heartfelt, who offer craft items for families to create together. Truly, there are handmade crafts for any age here. The very youngest can “paint” with watercolor crayons while older kids might enjoy decorating their own fairy house.
Gale Woods Saturday Farm Market
Gale Woods Farm, 7210 County Road 110 West, Minnetrista, MN 55364
Days & Times: Saturdays 9am-12:3pm thru mid-October
Family fun: Combine this with a Saturday Morning on the Farm. For a $5 ticket, families can meet animals, assist with farm chores and participate in seasonal activities.
Eat more veggies: For the older kids and teens, Gale Woods offers cooking and gardening classes that can help incorporate veggies into a lifestyle they can take with them as they grow up.
Make a day: Since Gale Woods Farm is part of the Three Rivers Park District, you can definitely make a full day of your visit – biking, hiking, fishing, paddling and picnicking!
Maple Grove Farmers Market
Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Days & Times: Thursdays, 3-6pm thru October 19, 2023
Family fun: Weekly music, Kids POP Club and seasonal activities round out the fresh local offerings. Vendors carry everything from wonderful produce to specialty products. Find a schedule of events and entertainment here.
Eat more veggies: We make it our routine to include a vegetable every time we sit down to dinner together. Every. Single. Time. Admittedly, on super busy nights that might mean a bowl of baby carrots gets set down next to the mac and cheese. The point is to make the vegetable serving a familiar, expected sight on their plate.
Make a day: The local community center is a stone’s throw from the awesome Central Park of Maple Grove playground, green space and splash fountains. Hit this one up while there’s still plenty of sunshine!
Midtown Farmers Market
E Lake St & Hiawatha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Days & Times: Saturdays, 8am-1pm & Tuesdays, 3-6pm thru Oct 2023
Family fun: Live music weekly, fall Second Saturday Arts for All, and demonstrations for cooking, gardening and composting. If this is a convenient location for you and you’d like to shop for fresh fruits and veggies year round, visit Midtown Global Market. It has the feel of a old-fashioned street market indoors with lots of ethnic specialties.
Eat more veggies: Introduce, introduce, introduce. I think I learned years back in my lifesaving parenting classes that it may take up to 20 “introductions” of a new food before a child takes to it. In our house, it was chili. 20 tries was the magic number. And hey, you can hide a LOT of veggies in chili!
Make a day: After you shop, lovely Powerhorn Park is only about a five-minute drive. Families have the choice of three updated playgrounds to burn off energy (tip: if you visit after the summer market, bring swimsuits for the wading pool), and the trail around Powderhorn Lake makes for a nice stroll.
Mill City Farmers Market
750 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Days & Times: Sat, 9am-1pm thru Oct 2023
Family fun: Fall farmers market fresh produce, cut flowers, samples, live entertainment and music, storytime with the Guthrie each first Saturday of the month, and occasional activities for kids, including the POP Club. We recommend bussing or biking to the market, but if you are driving find a parking lot with the MPLS Parking App.
Eat more veggies: Sneak if you have to. I mentioned above that chili is a great meal for hiding vegetables. Spaghetti sauce, soups, fried rice, omelets, meatballs and tuna salad are other good options. I very slowly replaced all the greens in our salads with spinach and kale and I promise, nobody noticed.
Make a day: Round of the day downtown visiting the super kid-friendly Mill City Museum, crossing the Mississippi on the Stone Arch Bridge to explore Father Hennepin Bluff Park & Historic Main Street Park, and taking a tour of the St Anthony Falls Lock and Dam – all within easy walking distance of the market.
Northeast Farmers Market
629 NE 2nd St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Days & Times: Saturdays, 9am-1pm thru October 14, 2023
Family fun: A children’s tent is stocked weekly 9am-1pm with educational market activities such as seed planting, food-themed art projects, storytime and more. Live music also accompanies the bountiful local food and handcrafted items.
Eat more veggies: Build-your-own meals go over great with kids and beg for brightly colored bowls of vegetables on the table to choose from. We love top-your-own pizza night (use this yummy homemade crust recipe then top with olives, peppers and mushrooms), or a classic taco night (think beans & avocados).
Make a day: Stock up at the market on picnic supplies and walk the easy three blocks to Boom Island Park on the Mississippi. There is playground equipment and a lovely pedestrian bridge that connects to Nicollet Island, a fun and safe way to cross the river.
Find an interactive map of Minneapolis fall farm markets.
Plymouth Farmers Market
Parkers Lake Playfield, 15500 County Road 6
Days & times: Wednesdays, through Oct. 4, 2023. 2:30-6:30 p.m.
Family fun: In addition to fresh fare, the market will often feature local musicians and family entertainment. Music Together will be at the Community Table during the Sept 7 & 14 farmers markets. Plus, kids will enjoy running around the playground.
Richfield Farmers Market
Veterans Park, 64th Street & Portland Ave S, Richfield MN 55423
Days & Times: Saturdays, 8am-noon thru October 28, 2023
Family fun: Plenty for families to enjoy at the market in addition to perusing the local produce.
Eat more veggies: Switch up your cooking method. I regale my brood with stories of how my own mom ruined Brussel sprouts for me as a kid (frozen, then overcooked) – until I discovered in my 30s you could air fry and toss them with spicy chili sauce. If your kid doesn’t take to a vegetable, try preparing it differently: roast cauliflower and asparagus instead of steaming it. Sauté green beans with a little garlic.
Make a day: Wheel Fun Rentals’ Pumpkin Patch (we are hopeful for a 2022 return) offers a whole crop of fall fun including hayrides, inflatables, and a round of mini golf at their 18-hole course. There’s also a large playground. Or, take to the park trails and enjoy the fall colors on a surrey bike.Â
St Paul Farmers Market
290 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
Days & Times: Saturdays & Sundays through the weekend of November 4-5, 2023; 8am-1pm.
Family fun:Â Be spontaneous! Pick any day of the week, except Monday, and find a market location to visit.
Eat more veggies: Use them as an appetizer. I like to put the serving dish of vegetables on the table first and allow the kids to help themselves while I put the finishing touches on the rest of dinner. Typically, at this point in the evening, veggies look a lot more appealing when they’re “starving”.
Make a day: The St Paul Saints are still playing games through September at CHS Field literally next door to the market stalls. Perfect for a day out if you’ve got baseball fans in the family. Should cooler weather drive you indoors, the wonderful Minnesota Children’s Museum is an easy, five-minute trip away.
More Seasonal Markets and Ways to Support Small Businesses & Farms:
- 38 Family-Friendly Twin Cities Spring & Summer Farmers Markets
- A Year-Round Guide to Family Fun on the Farm in Minnesota
- Find a list of Art Fairs – where you can shop for soaps, jewelry, pottery and more:Â Twin Cities Festivals & Fairs: A Year-Round Minnesota Family Guide
- Support Your Local Shops on Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday
- Best Places to Buy Real Christmas Trees in the Twin Cities
Find hundreds more things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul with kids!
Stay Up To Date with Family Fun Twin Cities: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest.