Bradenton Farmers’ Market

Why We Love It: Along historic Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton, the seasonal Bradenton Farmers’ Market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays from October to May. More than 35 vendor booths display hydroponic, organic, locally cultivated produce, along with prepared foods, fresh seafood, baked goods, plants, flowers and one-of-a-kind home décor items. There is jewelry and artwork from artisan crafters, live music, demonstrations by area chefs, and family-friendly activities. Every third Saturday features Mainly Art—an event that welcomes dozens of artists and craftspeople to showcase and sell their creations. The setting of the market has its own aesthetic appeal, as Old Main Street is a tree-lined retail district of cafés, bars and restaurants. The street runs three blocks north from Manatee Avenue to the Manatee River, where it intersects with the Bradenton Riverwalk—a 1.5-mile park with day docks, an amphitheater, a pavilion, a skateboard park and an interactive splash pad.