Summer is in full swing and Baby, it’s warm outside! Come on down to historic Fernandina Beach Saturday morning to enjoy a stroll through the Market Place farmers market and the Fernandina Beach Arts Market before the mercury rises for the day. Open at 9:00 a.m., it’s cooler in the morning and the pavement isn’t too hot for your best friend’s paws. The Puppy Pastry Shoppe is back at the farmers market this week with homemade dog treats like 100% beef and chicken jerky, and carrot muffins. And all the dogs are barking about the peanut butter banana ice cream cups. Using all natural ingredients, these treats are tested by humans, but made for puppies. Get a free sample for your dog, and try a fresh-squeezed lemonade for yourself, by Lemon Sensations. They make their tall cold drinks to order in blueberry, strawberry, and lemon flavors, with or without sugar.
There are over 40 food and all-natural booths on North Seventh Street including wild-caught shrimp, seasonal fruits and vegetables, hot sauces, flavored salts, dressings, desserts, body products, soy candles, plants, flowers, and more. A Patient Journey Farm has duck and chicken, JD Beef has beef and pork, and Upstream LLC has salmon and scallops. Robert returns with his huge plant selection from Everblooming Gardens, and Ina and The Dutchman bring two booths worth of flowering baskets, pepper plants, succulents and more… because summer is in full swing. For an easy-care plant or gift, talk to Sea Shore Terrariums. They have molded glass and driftwood designs, seashell planters, and do-it-yourself kits. Jellies, jams, and preserves are available from Epperson Farms, and Nina also brings yard eggs and goat milk when available. You find dill, hot and sweet, and bread and butter pickles at King’s Kountry Produce, and local honey under the bright yellow tent that is home to St. Mary’s Bee Ranch. Prepared dishes are an easy fix for meals by African Love Kitchen and Chef Bill from Amelia Island Culinary Academy. Follow it up with dessert from Chef Ce’tia and no one needs to know you didn’t do the cooking.
The Fernandina Beach Arts Market will also be open Saturday. Located adjacent to the farmers market, there are 30 additional tents displaying acrylic and watercolor paintings, wood working like charcuterie boards and plant boxes, children’s apparel, hair bows and gifts, original authors, aprons, ice-dye clothing, pottery, home decor and other amazing finds.
Both markets add to the eclectic authenticity of our local Victorian seaside village. Join your family, friends, and neighbors as they shop and support local small business, at the markets or along Centre Street. Whether you come downtown to peruse the quaint shops, dine at a friendly restaurant, or pick up some fresh produce from the farmers market, Fernandina Beach’s history just oozes from every corner. The natural deep water port, Florida’s oldest saloon, and the abundance of old, Spanish moss draped oaks set the background for stories of yesterday’s railway tycoons, pirates, and other lessons that came from life in one of Florida’s oldest cities – no matter the year, summer is in full bloom this time of the year.
The Fernandina Beach Market Place and the Arts Market are open until 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. The farmers market is open every Saturday, year-round, and the Arts Market is open on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays through the summer, and more frequently during the holiday shopping season. Live music will be performed by the talented Jen Burns. Both markets can be found on Facebook or online for more information.
