Farmers market returns to Coal City

By: 
Staff report

   Coal City’s farmers market—Market Fresh on Broadway—returns this month for its second year and organizers have scheduled five Saturday markets that will highlight local products, entertainment and activities for all.
    The concept behind the market is to provide area residents with a location to access quality locally sourced products from fruits and vegetables, to jams, jellies, baked goods and handcrafted items.
    The first market is scheduled for Saturday, July 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Campbell Memorial Park. Six vendors have confirmed participation and a handful of others have expressed their intent to take part in the markets that are scheduled through the end of September.
    To kick-off the day, resident Jaime Martis-Frazier will instruct a morning yoga session in the park. Frazier is finalizing her training as a certified yoga instructor. The 8 a.m. class will be held in the park gazebo. Those interested in participating are asked to bring a yoga mat, large towel and own water. Each participant will be required to sign a liability waiver located on the Market Fresh on Broadway Facebook page. Those under age 18 must have a parent sign for them. There is no charge to participate.
    Across the park, the Coal City Police Department will be serving breakfast from the concession stand. Coal City’s cops can cook and for this event it will be homemade biscuits and gravy.  To go along with that, Babe’s  Tap will be offering its most popular drink, the Bloody Mary. The police department will also serve donuts, coffee and water.
    Guitarist Destiny Barrus will perform throughout the day and Small Town Theatrics cast of “Dogfight: A New Musical,” will provide a sneak peak of their summer production beginning at noon.
    Vendors returning July 22 include:
    • Perkins Farm—Variety of garden grown vegetables.
    • Three Sisters Produce—Jams, jellies, spices, baked goods, vegetables and teas.
    • Wills Family Farm—Sweet corn.
    New to the market this year are:
    • Albo Acres—Alpaca fiber, yarn, figures, hats, gloves, socks, shoe inserts, dryer balls, blankets, purses, sweaters, and more.
    • Nettle Creek Lavender Farm—Lavender sprays, sachets, lip balm, lotions, soap, dried bouquets, plants and other combinations of lavender paired with scents.
    • Stella’s Serendipity—Natural, food based body scrubs, bath bombs and related products.
    Market Fresh on Broadway is sponsored by the Village of Coal City, Free Press Newspapers, Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Three Rivers Association of Realtors and Sunshine Garden Center.
    Additional market days are scheduled for Aug. 12 and 26, and Sept. 9 and 23. An updated list of vendors will appear in the July 19 edition of The Coal City Courant.
    Vendors interested in participating can obtain additional information and an application by visiting the village’s website at www.coalcity-il.gov.