Sarasota Farmers’ Market

Why We Love It: Devoting a Saturday morning to shopping at the Sarasota Farmers’ Market has been a downtown tradition since 1979, and attendees flock from all over the world to participate in it. From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. all year long, about 70 to 85 vendors gather along Lemon Avenue between First Street and South Pineapple Avenue. They sell apparel, homemade pastas, jewelry, artwork, plants and farm-fresh produce, as spectators fill their bags and wheelbarrows with fresh ingredients. Look for the white tents and booths in more than 5,000 square feet of shopping space, and inhale the aromas of freshly picked herbs, sizzling take-away meals, therapeutic oils and soy candles. Then, stop into one of the cafes, restaurants and boutique stores along Main Street and the surrounding side streets. Experiencing downtown by starting with the market is a must for any new-to-town visitor or year-round resident who wants to rediscover the city’s local magic.