Schedule set for farmers markets in Monongahela

The popular event will return June 13 and will continue on Fridays through Sept. 5.

The annual Monongahela Farmers Market will make its return to Chess Park this summer with weekly themes, a lineup of musical performances and plenty of vendors.

Monongahela Area Revitalization Corporation President George Eckert announced during Monday’s council work session that the farmers’ market will commence June 13, running every Friday through Sept. 5, except July 4.

Each week, Chess Park will fill up with vendors, food, music and shoppers.

The farmers market, organized by MARC, has grown significantly throughout the past five years, according to Eckert.

“We basically have vendors setting up on half of the park now and that might expand by another 10 to 15%,” Eckert said. “We have vendors calling us now about coming down. We don’t have to get in contact with them.”

With three months until the opening day of the farmers market, 22 vendors are already signed up for this summer.

“It’s getting bigger every year and if it goes on too much, we might take over all of Chess Park,” Eckert said.

This year’s weekly themes include a senior citizens day, Christmas in July, a wild animals day, Touch a Truck, and a veterans appreciation day. MARC has yet to finalize dates for the theme days.

Mon Valley Academy for the Arts, which schedules the entertainment for the farmers’ market, unveiled the concert series schedule on Facebook.

MVAA received a grant from the EQT Foundation to fund the concert series.

Five artists who performed during the 2024 farmers market will return to Chess Park this year: C&T Acoustic, Strumburgh, Tom & Jerry, Johnny Vann and Day One.

“There are some groups that are coming back, and we’re going to have some new ones,” Eckert said. “They like coming down because they can get up there and do their little show.”

Each headliner will take the stage from 4 to 6 p.m. each week.

This year, there will also be openers that put on a show from 3 to 3:45 p.m.

“It’ll be some local kids that sit down and play some music for 45 minutes just to get them out there so people can see who they are,” Eckert said. “And that will get a little confidence in the kids. You’re not up on stage, but you’re down under a tree and people come and listen to you (while) the market is set up.”

Businesses that want to sign up as vendors can find contracts at marc15063. com.

The full farmers market concert series headliners schedule:

• June 13 — C&T Acoustic.

• June 20 — Marks Brothers.

• June 27 — Strumburgh.

• July 11 — Tom & Jerry.

• July 18 — Johnny Vann/ VannTastics.

• July 25 — Day One.

• Aug. 1 — Strumburgh.

• Aug. 8 — Johnny Vann/ VannTastics.

• Aug. 15 — Allies Band.

• Aug. 22 — Scott and Rosanna.

• Aug. 29 and Sept. 5 — Joe Forman & Grace.