Winter Market Season Enters the Home Stretch

With Opening of Outdoor Market Season in Less Than a Month

My Green City Market haul on February 28 included apples, onions, potatoes and sweet potatoes from Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois) and Dark Rye flour from Janie's Mill (Ashkum, Illinois) purchased at the stand of Mint Creek Farm (Cabery, Illinois). Photo by Bob Benenson

I'm certainly delighted by this stretch of mid-springlike temperatures, and I'm sure many of you are too. While a return to more normal March temperatures is expected starting Tuesday, most days in the 10-day forecast are showing temps in the 40s, and there isn't a polar vortex in sight.

As of this writing on Monday (March 9), we are down to 11 days before the first day of spring and less them a month before Chicago's Green City Market kicks off the outdoor market season at its Lincoln Park flagship location on Saturday, April 4.

With a number of indoor markets closing for the season by the end of month, let's take advantage and catch them while we can.

---

2025-26 Chicago Region Winter Farmers Markets

BATAVIA (Southwest Suburbs)

Batavia Farmers Market, Sturdy Shelter Brewing, 10 S. Shumway Avenue

• Every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m, through May 9

Next Market: March 14

BUFFALO GROVE (Northwest Suburbs)

Buffalo Grove Indoor Winter Farmers Market, 2900 N. Main St.

• 2nd and 4th Sundays through April, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 22

CARY/CRYSTAL LAKE (Far Northwest Suburbs)

Cary Winter Farmers Market, 3702 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake

• 1st and 3rd Sundays through May, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Next Market: March 15

CHICAGO

61st Street Market, Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone Ave. (South Side)

• Every Saturday through Dec. 20, then 2nd Saturdays thru April, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

Edgewater Indoor Market, 5917 N. Broadway (North Side)

• Saturdays Jan. 10 and 31, February 14 and 28, March 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 14 (last scheduled market)

Farm on Ogden Winter Market, 3555 W. Ogden Ave. (West Side)

• Open Weekly, Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Garfield Park Neighborhood Market, The Hatchery, 135 N. Kedzie (West Side)

• Saturdays Dec. 13, February 14, April 11, May 9th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: April 11

Green City Market Avondale, 3057 N Rockwell St. (North Side)

• Saturday thru Dec. 20, then every Saturday Jan. 10-March 21, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

Jefferson Park Sunday Market, Copernicus Ctr., 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. (North Side)

• Dec. 21, Feb. 1, March 22, May 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 22

Logan Square Indoor Farmers Market, 2800 N. Milwaukee Ave. (North Side)

• Saturdays through March 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

Plant Chicago Farmers Market, 4430 S. Marshfield Ave. (South Side)

2nd Saturdays February through April, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

South Loop Winter Farmers Market, 150 W. Roosevelt Rd. (South Loop)

• Every Saturday January 10-March 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

South Loop Winter Farmers Market, Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan (North Side)

• Every Sunday January 11 through March 29, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Next Market: March 15

Wicker Park Winter Farmers Market, 1450 N. Milwaukee Ave. (North Side)

• Sundays Dec. 7, 14 and 28; Jan. 4 and 18; Feb. 1 and 15; March 1, 15 and 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 15

CRYSTAL LAKE (Far Northwest Suburbs)

Farmers Market at the Dole, 401 Country Club Rd.

• Sundays Dec. 7, 14 and 21; Jan. 11 and 25; Feb. 8 and 22; March 8 and 22; April 12, 19, 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 22

EVANSTON (Near North Suburbs)

Community Indoor Farmers Market, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 616 Lake St.

• Saturdays Dec. 6 and 20; Jan. 3, 17 and 31; Feb. 14 and 28; March 14 and 28, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

Evanston Winter Farmers Market, Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.

• Saturdays Dec. 13 and 27; Jan. 10 and 24; Feb. 7 and 21; March 7 and 21; April 4, 11, 18 and 25; 8 a.m to 12:30 p.m.

Next Market: March 21

GRAYSLAKE (Far North Suburbs)

Liberty Prairie Farm Store, 970 Harris Rd.

• Open Weekly, Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

HIGHLAND PARK (North Suburbs)

Ravinia Winter Farmers Market (Friday), Braeside Market, 55 St. John's Ave.

• Every Friday, Jan. 16-April 24, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Next Market: March 13

Ravinia Winter Farmers Market (Saturday), Wayfarer Theater, 1850 Second St.

• Every Saturday, Jan. 10-April 25, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

HUNTLEY (Far North Suburbs)

Huntley Indoor Farmers Market, Huntley Municipal Complex, 10987 Main St.

• 2nd Saturdays through April, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

PALATINE (Northwest Suburbs)

Palatine Winter Farmers Market, 137 W. Wood St.

• 1st and 3rd Saturdays through April, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Next Market: March 21

ST. CHARLES (Western Suburbs)

St. Charles Indoor Farmers/Baked Goods Market, Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar

• Fridays through May, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Next Market: March 13

SKOKIE

Skokie Winter Farmers Market, 4051 Main St.

• Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m, January 11 and 25, February 1 and 22, March 15 and 29, April 12 and 26

Next Market: March 15

WHEATON (Western Suburbs)

Wheaton Indoor Market, Wheaton Mason’s Lodge, 120 W. Wesley

• Saturdays through April, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

WOODSTOCK (Far Northwest Suburbs)

Woodstock Farmers Market, All Seasons Orchard, 14510 IL 176

• Saturdays Dec. 6, 13 and 20; Jan. 3, 17 and 31; Feb. 14 and 28; March 14 and

28; April 11 and 25, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Next Market: March 14

---

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL FOOD FORUM