The Markets Are Back. Here's What We Know.
Photo courtesy of Peter Wendt and Unsplash
As of yesterday, the two-thirds of the Missoula markets are back and a bit of normalcy has returned after a year of strident Covid-19 restrictions. The Missoula City County Health Department is allowing hot food vendors, but some remnants of last year’s restrictions will still be visible, including masking and social distancing requirements.
Haven’t been to any of Missoula’s Saturday markets? Here’s a rundown of what they are and what you can expect:
Missoula Farmer’s Market
Located at 534 N. Higgins (or close to the XXXXs), this market is Missoula’s longest running farmer’s market because most of the vendors sell in-season produce, vegetable starts, and things you’ll find growing in the ground. Set atop an original brick pathways, it is a great place to grab a head of garlic, mixed greens, a fresh pastry and a bouquet of flowers, all while chatting up your local farmer.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, May to October
Missoula People’s Market:
This market features local craftspeople and artisans sharing their wares, like photography, soap-making, and glass art. Last year this market was cancelled, so this is the first time back for many of the vendors. Organizers are tentatively scheduling the first market to be Saturday, June 5th and the last market to be Saturday September, 25th. These dates are dependent on current Covid-19 restrictions.
Clark Fork Market:
It’s easy to remember this one because it’s closest to the Clark Fork River, formerly in the parking lot between the Holiday Inn Parkside and Caras Park. Because of construction on the bridge, it’s further west this year, closer to A Carousel for Missoula. We love the variety of grocery staples like cheeses, meats, and accoutrements, as well as food trucks, restaurant vendors, and local musicians.
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays
Mostly positive Reviews
So what did people think about the 2021 return of the markets? While some were excited about the return of the markets, others had trepidation, especially about the changes made and the sizes of the crowds.
"I loved that they had it in front of Dragons Hollow! I feel like the the loop/two rows of tents worked so much better for foot traffic than the the location under the bridge. Plus having Dragons Hollow right there was great for my husband and two-year-old to pop into.”
—Lyla W., Realtor and mom
“The Missoula Farmer's Market up by the X's was very relaxed and less crowded. We also went there first, around 9:30 a.m., so maybe we hit it before it got super crowded. The Clark Fork Market (we went there around 10:30) was really, really crowded and a little overwhelming. A larger selection of vendors, but a lot more shoppers!”
—Abby Riley, mom of two
“It was fun to be there but a little bit of sensory overload! We bought mixed greens, green onions, pastries from three different vendors and dog treats. We were also mulling over what starts to get for our garden, looking for a pumpkin specifically, but put that off for another week. We knew it was in a new spot because of construction, and I wondered what that would do for parking but we parked on main street no problem. We usually try to bike anyway, but we had been for a hike and stopped on our way home. Lots of great looking veggies already.”
—Grace D., mom, community organizer, and childcare professional