If you were one of the many in Riverbend Park last weekend for the 8th Annual Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival, you may have missed out on the opening weekend of the annual summer Sunday Market series in Palisade. Luckily, summer is just getting started.
The market has grown with the addition of the block of Main Street just south of Third Street. This block was recently ‘classed up’ with the addition of four pieces of original sculpture by four local artists as a part of the Palisade Art Vision program.
The Sunday Market now boasts close to 60 different vendors of local products and services. There is music every week, as well as demonstrations by local chefs. The music starts in the Town Plaza at 10 a.m. and plays till 11:30. Lunchtime is a great opportunity to catch the chef’s demonstration from 11:30 – 12:30, they give out samples of the day’s recipes too!
Lee Mathis will be serving samples of a spicy peach-glazed grilled chicken breast this week from 11:30 – 12:30.
This week, local musician Ron Koss will be entertaining, as he always is, and Lee Mathis of Decadence Gourmet will be preparing grilled chicken breasts with a spicy peach glaze.
There is also a children’s art tent each Sunday, with activities for kids. Face painting is always fun, and there will be a caricature artist at the market every few weekends as well.
A massage therapist is on-site for a quick pick-me-up, and local restaurants such as the 3-5-7 and the Palisade Cafe 11.0 serve meals. The Slice O’Life Bakery has delicious treats and breads as well as soups and sandwiches, and there are also a number of food trucks at the market each week, including Guera’s Chili, Colorado Q, and Las Torres, to name just a few.
In addition to the produce booths, there are always local lavender products, alpaca fiber and products, honey, and even a gourmet sea salt seller.
And, of course, there are the farmstands. Of the eleven farms that have reserved booths at the market, nine are already showing up with produce, and the other two will be along in the next week or two. New farms this year include the Happy Belly CSA, the Palisade Peach Shack and the Early Morning Orchard. There will be locally produced goat cheese and locally grown eggs and meats available at the market this year as well.
Cherries are plentiful this year, as are apricots, peas, lettuce and early tomatoes, and that is just what is available so far, and there’s plenty more coming.
The market is open each Sunday morning, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. The produce comes straight from the farms, so get there early for the freshest fruits and veggies.
