Matt Schickling, the Wire
Hatboro Farmers Market returned last Friday with the first market of its third season.
The market, which is operated by the Hatboro Residents’ Association, includes about 40 rotating vendors, food trucks, live music and other entertainment. It is held on the property of Hatboro Baptist Church, 32 N. York Road, right in the center of town.
“We’re really excited to be back in the community, offering such a positive family event,” HRA President Melinda Goodwin said. “It’s about supporting local businesses and revitalization of the town.”
While many vendors have stayed on for all three years, the market has picked up some new offerings. Vendors like Clay Brick Farms, which offers farm-raised beef and chicken, fresh eggs and milk, or Mediterra, which makes organic olive oil, vinegar, olives, spreads and more, are new this year and will be present each week. The vendors focus on homemade or homegrown items.
Also new this year are the extended hours. Last year, the market started at 6 p.m. and was moved up to 5 p.m. so there would be more time to shop. The market will run every Friday through Oct. 9 with the exception of July 3 and Sept. 4. Goodwin said those weekends are slow because many people go on vacation for the holidays.
Facepainting and balloon animals by Chippy the Clown will be available each week.
The growth from the first “baby market” to what it has become has been great for the borough and busy for the HRA members, who spend a lot of the year securing vendors and performers, organizing dates and settling other logistics.
“We’re definitely expecting an increase in volume,” Goodwin said. “It grew so much toward the end of the year.”
She hopes that growth will continue into this year.
“So many people said they never knew about it before. Hopefully they do now.”
Participating vendors include:
Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars
Don’s Gourmet Pickles
Backyard Beans Coffee Company
Bucks County Alpacas
A’Dello Vineyard and Winery
Woodford Heirloom Farm
Hamilton Homestead Farm
Deldream Art
Natures Alive Pet Foods
Humpty’s Dumplings
Pots and Pans Mobile Catering
Nurturing Nature Farm
Anita’s Guacamole
Deb Bees Wildflower Honey
Surf and Turf Truck
Mediterra
Watercolors by Kay
Popcorn Pit
Tilted Haggis Soap
Lavender Lane and Company
Lillo’s Italian Ice
Tim’s BBQ Food Truck
Stitch the Moon Sewing Co.
The Preachers Pig Pit
Everich Honey Farm and Howe Sharpening
Clay Brick Farms
Designs by Amanda Kate
Uncle Joe Dautcher’s Farm Market
Gardeners of the Crooked Billet
Philly Bill’s Dills
MeatWagon BBQ
Barefoot Body Inc.
Two Sisters Canning
The Taza Truck
Kaeddie Design
Live music and entertainment:
Leo Ricobaldi
Skip
Tom Reilly
Tom Collins
Andrew and the Rhythm Hounds
Cross Keys Missionaries
Harp Club Band
Barbara McCrea and Laura Kalnajs
The next Hatboro Farmers Market will be held this Friday, May 8, at the Hatboro Baptist Church, 32 N. York Road, from 5 p.m. to dusk. Vendor and entertainment schedules are available on the Hatboro Residents’ Association website at www.hatbororesidents.com.
DATES OF MARKET:
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
June 5, 12, 19, 26
July 10, 17, 24, 31
August 7, 14, 21, 28
September 11, 18, 25
October 2, 9
There will be no market July 3 or Sept. 4 to accommodate Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends.
