MINT HILL, NC – On Monday, May 1, the Mint Hill Farmers Market will kick off its sixteenth season.

Longtime market patrons will notice a few changes at this summer’s market.  Previously open from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, the market will now be open every Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  “Mint Hill’s a sleepy little town in the morning!” says Market Manager Barbara Lowe, who noticed that shoppers often weren’t arriving until 9:00 or 10:00.  

The change in hours will also allow patrons to take advantage of the Farmer’s Market Food Court for lunch.  This year, shoppers can enjoy fare from Whitey’s Concessions, Chalaka Tacos, Mint Hill’s Famous Hot Dogs, Mama K’s Kettle Corn, and Sammy’s So Good snowballs in addition to sweet treats provided by several different market vendors.  “You name it, and we’ve got it!” says Lowe.

This year’s market will also be bigger than ever before.  With only a few weeks to go until opening day, 63 vendors were signed up (up from 50 last summer), and Lowe was still getting calls from interested parties.  Lowe expects the weekly market to be almost as large as last year’s Christmas Market.  Expect to see a huge variety of items for sale this year: locally-grown produce; jams, jellies and canned items; herbal oils and teas; jewelry; woodworking; fresh local meats; elderberry products; CBD; fresh flowers; fresh-baked breads, cakes and other sweets; and face masks, to name just a few

This year’s market will also bring back some old favorites.  Fay Godwin, “the cake lady,” makes everything from coconut cream cake and Italian cream cake to lemon bars and brownies.  “She has been with us since the very first day!” says Lowe.  “Another one that’s been with us since the beginning is Bobbie Floyd.  She does all hand-sewing, beautiful work.”

Also new to the market this year is Saturday programming.  The first Saturday of every month will have kids’ crafts; on opening day, kids will be invited to make t-shirt market bags.  The second Saturday of each month will feature programming aimed at adults; for example, more information about the market’s CBD vendors.  The third Saturday of each month, the market hopes to spotlight Mint Hill’s local restaurants.  The brainchild of market vendor Sandy Harrison, owner of Photographic Elegance and Vitality Ginger, the idea is that local restaurants can tell their story, sample their food, or conduct cooking demonstrations.  The fourth Saturday of every month will feature live entertainment from groups like Mint Hill Dance, and teen singing sensation Bailey Marie Griggs, who performed at the Christmas Market.  These weekly programs will begin at 10:00 am.

The Mint Hill Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning from May 1 to September 25.  Find them in downtown Mint Hill’s Historical Village, and follow them on Facebook at “Mint Hill Farmer’s Market.”