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Join Us on July 18 for a Guided Tour of The Lincoln Park Farmers Market
- Bob Benenson
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Help Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of a Pillar of Chicago's Local Food Community
When The Lincoln Park Farmers Market first opened in 1981, it was one of a small handful of Chicagoland farmers markets. Its Saturday market was a favorite of chefs who were in the vanguard of the farm-to-table movement.
It faced challenges over the years as the farmers market sector boomed, creating exponentially more competition for customers and vendors. But under the determined and creative leadership of Market Manager Elsa Jacobson, the market has re-invented itself over the past few years as a quintessential neighborhood market, and again has a lineup of dozens of popular vendors.
That's why the Local Food Forum is partnering with the Naturally Chicago non-profit on a tour that will salute The Lincoln Park Farmers Market's 45th anniversary. [Note: I do contract communications for Naturally Chicago, the association for the region's natural products consumer packaged goods industry.]
This fun, informal and informational event will take place on Saturday, July 18, beginning at 9 a.m. A limited number of tickets, priced at just $25, are available for purchase (click the button below). The market is located on a path on the west side of Lincoln Park High School at 724 W. Armitage Ave. (a block from the intersection of Armitage and Halsted).
I will lead the tour along with Elsa. We will stop to meet several vendors and hear their takes on the importance of the market and of locally produced food in general. Purchases by tour participants will be greatly appreciated.
If you visited The Lincoln Park Farmers Market in past years, when it was in the school parking lot, be aware that the location has shifted a few yards east. Instead of spread out across the parking lot, it is now a congenial promenade. During my visit to the market on Saturday (June 27), several customers complimented Elsa on the change.
Here are some photos of the market scene:
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market located on a path next to Lincoln Park High School — and it is adjacent to Oz Park, a tribute to L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz books. If there is enough interest, we can segue over and hang out with the statues of Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion.