Valparaiso’s Central Park Plaza Market opened on June 1st to a large crowd of local and regional residents. Open from 8am to 3pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer, the Market sells a variety of foods, drinks, crafts and plants in downtown Valparaiso’s Central Park. This year, there are more vendors and booths than last year, with more to come as we further enter the hot summer months. The vendors greeted the grand opening crowd with samples, hospitality, and free smells all around.
“My favorite part of the farmers’ market is seeing all of the people in the community. It’s not about making money, it’s more about supporting things that are handmade and home grown. I think that’s the thing that brings us all together here every summer. That’s really what it is,” said Julie Remschneider with a smile. Julie runs Remschneider Kettle Corn, Remschneider Honey Farms, and a refreshing lemonade stand, one of the few drink spots in the Market.
“The variety of products and booths and people and the atmosphere that they create are so genuine and friendly. And the summer weather brings it all together,” said Sophie Virgil, a friend of Jayne Baker, owner of Aunt Jayne’s Confections, specializing in chocolate bark.
So if you want to see the Remschneider booths, Aunt Jayne’s Confections, Valpo Velvet ice cream, Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Reggie’s Veggies, Native Roots Farm, Deb’s Gardens, Kaylee’s Hope, live acoustic music, and a ballooning jester on stilts, come on down to the Central Park Plaza Market in downtown Valparaiso.
Click here to view more photos from the market opening!