You know it’s spring and summer in the Metro-Detroit area when farmers markets start popping up in various neighborhoods, communities, and cities. While they vary in size, produce, and market days, they offer a place for local farmers and artisans to sell their fruits, vegetables, and crafts. These are just a few of Oakland County’s farmers markets:
Birmingham Farmers Market
Birmingham has hosted its Farmers Market since 2003. These days, the market has over 70 stalls filled with locally grown produce, garden plants and flowers, organic produce and crafts.
Location: Public Parking Lot 6 on the east side of North Old Woodward
Season: Sundays, from May to the end of October
Hours: 9 am to 2 pm
Contact phone number: (248) 530-1200
Claim to Fame / Special Attractions: Birmingham Farmers Market has a children’s arts and crafts area and live musical performances. It also hosts several special events, including a health and wellness event, the corn festival, the harvest festival, and the end-of-season celebration.
Ferndale Farmers Market
Location: Kulick Community Center in Livernois (near downtown Ferndale)
Season: Saturdays from June
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Claim to Fame / Special Attractions – The market sometimes hosts activities for children and has a playground nearby. If the weather is bad, the market moves inside the Kulick Community Center.
Notes: Most vendors do not accept credit cards.
Downtown Rochester Farmers Market
Downtown Rochester has hosted a farmers market for over 15 years (since 2000). The market features products from 30 vendors, including baked goods, bedding plants, cider, dill, dried flowers, field grown cut flowers, flowers, fresh produce, vine wreaths and pots, greenhouse grown plants / flowers, herbs , honey, jams and jellies, maple syrup, sauces and salad dressings.
Location: East Third and Water Streets (one block from Main Street)
Day and season: Saturdays, from May to the end of October
Hours: 8 am to 1 pm
Contact phone number: (248) 656-0060
Claim to Fame / Special Attractions: The Farmer’s Market hosts eco-living seminars throughout the season. Downtown Rochester also hosts a Green Life Festival every June. Best of all, the market hosts a master gardener every Saturday to answer questions about home gardening.
Royal Oak Farmers Market
The Royal Oak Farmers’ Market is one of the oldest markets in the Metro-Detroit area. It has been in operation since 1925. The market is also one of the largest. Offers fresh fruit, vegetables, planting beds, herbs, hanging baskets, cut, potted and dried flowers, certified organic beans and cereals, eggs, honey, baked goods, homemade jams, preserves and jellies, fresh apple cider, holiday decorations , Christmas trees and wreaths, cheese, dill, evergreens, cut flowers, greenhouse-grown plants, and maple syrup.
Location: Civic Center at the intersection of 11 Mile Road and Troy Street (two blocks east of Main Street)
Season: Friday, May to
Saturdays at Christmas, all year round.
Hours: 7 am to 1 pm
Contact phone number: (248) 246-3276
Claim to Fame / Special Attractions: Royal Oak also hosts a flea market with over 100 antiques and collectibles vendors on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Oakland County Market
Oakland County is home to a market with about 20 vendors in Waterford. Products available include vegetables, fruits, bedding plants, cheese, Christmas trees, cider, dill, evergreens, field grown cut flowers, greenhouse produce, herbs, honey, jams and jellies, maple syrup, plant foods, insect and animal repellants, and soaps
Location: 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
Days and season: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from May to Christmas Saturdays, after Christmas to April
Hours: 6:30 am to 2 pm
Contact phone number: (248) 858-5495
Claim to Fame / Special Attractions: Oakland County also hosts a flea market on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
