As designated by the United Nations General Assembly, July 30th is International Day of Friendship, and what better way to celebrate friendships than spending the morning at the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers market, where friends gather and new friendships are made. The farmers market has always encouraged peace and happiness by welcoming community groups and non-profit organizations to share their mission as a featured Booth With a Cause, and inviting people to bring their friends and neighbors downtown for fresh-air shopping and fellowship.
At the farmers market this Saturday you will enjoy live music by the Awkward Pauses Band, a local acoustic rock trio consisting of Robert Jenkins (vocals, guitar) Dana Jenkins (vocals, bass) and Sean Gruber (drums, percussion). The group performs a mixed playlist of covers and remakes of anything from The Beatles to Weezer. Teak and Ivy, a locally owned, downtown boutique with a vision for women to look how they feel, will be our featured business of the week. They specialize in chic, edgy, and fun fashions that will make you feel confident every day. They will have a variety of their apparel and jewelry on display and for sale.
Of course the farmers market will also have about 30 vendors with traditional goods like seasonal produce by Kings Kountry Produce, the Carter Family Homestead, and Bacon’s Select Produce. Pecans, every way you could imagine, will be brought in from Ganas Pecan Farm in Waycross, Georgia, and Chesser Seafood will sell out of the 300 pounds of wild caught, local shrimp they bring every Saturday. Look for fresh baked breads by Ferras Bakery and the Great Harvest Bread Company, and herbal plants and succulents will be filling up two display spaces by Seven Trees Nursery. You will find eggs, freshly squeezed lemonade, chicken, duck, gluten-free and vegan bakers, and Sweet Aloha Treats is back to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Osborne Ranch from Fernandina has loofah grown locally, but Sherry Osborne also makes homemade bath and beauty products from goat milk and olive oil such as shower steamers in eucalyptus or rosemary mint, shampoo bars, and a wildly popular item is her shave soap, and it is not just for men anymore. She also has great souvenir soaps like the Amelia Island Ocean Water Spa Bar made with ocean water and pink Himalayan salt, and Amelia Island Sand Bar Ocean Soap made with ocean water, olive oil, and beach sand.
Bunna Cafe is back with their roasted Ethiopian coffee, and African Love Kitchen returns from vacation with their authentic Tanzanian dishes. Hillary’s Chicago Pizza will be at the Market Place, too, with cheese pizza, sausage, pepperoni, or a spinach and mushroom pizza on a traditional corn meal crust. These pizzas are par-baked and ready to be finished off in your own oven.
Please join these, and many other vendors, every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. We invite you to bring your family, friends, and neighbors to North Seventh Street in historic Fernandina Beach and help us celebrate this International Day of Friendship. Even your four-legged friends can join you.
