Ashland – The Ashland Farmers” Market Opening Day is set for Saturday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 125 Front St., on the grass across from the Ashland Library. Each Saturday, the market will host live music and activities for kids. Food trucks and theme days are among the new additions this year.
Opening Day will feature The Railroad House Band from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the music stage. New this year is Yummies Drive-Up gourmet food wagon, with their specialty lobster rolls, where visitors can enjoy lunch while listening to the six-piece band play bluegrass, country, rock and blues favorites. Opening Day also features WildKat Hoops with hula hoop action for young and old. Patti of On The Edge Knife Sharpening will be honing blades from kitchens and gardens.
The market will feature more than 25 tents of farmers, bakers, specialty food makers, and local artisans. Other new additions this season include ice cream, vegetarian sandwiches, pickles, jams, blueberries, nut butters, root beer, wine, chocolate, and Indian dishes.
On Saturday, June 22, AFM's Sustainability Day, visitors can bike to the market, take in a healthy breakfast and lunch at Clover Food Truck, which is bringing its fresh, vegetarian fare all the way from Cambridge, then take a bike tour through Ashland and return to consult with Steve the Bike Guy. Kids can check out chickens from Natick Organic Farm and make art from recycled materials. Jesse Hanson, local multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter, will perform at the music stage. In addition, visitors will learn about worm composting, solar energy, water and energy conservation, and vegetable gardening in small places.
On Saturday, June 29, at AFM's Author's Showcase, Maryanne O’Hara, NY Times bestselling author of Cascade, will sign copies of her book together with Kate Gilmore, author of young adult novels. Also planned for that day is live music with the Slim Chance blues, Americana, and classic rock band, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the Kid's Corner, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., featuring Lori from Little Friends Music.
Ashland Farmers Market will again provide a SNAP Matching Program, doubling tokens up to $10 per person each week. This means that weekly SNAP shoppers can spend an additional $40 a month on breads, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, poultry and cheese, and even vegetable and herb seedlings. Some market farm vendors will also accept WIC and Senior Coupons.
Ashland Farmers Market will run through Oct. 19. To learn more, visit www.ashlandfarmersmarket.org.
