Local Life Hack: Uptown Farmers Market
Who doesn’t love wandering a farmers market, especially right in Uptown? Just a few blocks from the skyline’s busiest corners is a spot that feels like it belongs in a small town, even though it’s in the middle of our big (mid-sized) city.
Every Saturday, the Uptown Farmers Market takes over the lot at 300 S. Davidson Street with tables full of fresh produce, baked goods, coffee, and local finds. There’s also free onsite parking, which we know is rare in the city and makes it easy to pop in for a visit.
It’s been a favorite among locals for years, and now it’s getting some well-earned recognition, Southern Living recently named it one of the 17 Best Farmers Markets in the South!
From April through mid-December, the market is open between 8:00 AM and 12:30 PM. The market brings tons of farmers with fresh produce, plus bakers with loaves of bread, pies and treats, and many other fun local makers and creators. In the quieter winter months from January through March, the market scales down for the season but still brings fresh local favorites to the surface lot.
It’s as much about the atmosphere as it is the shopping. You might chat with the person who grew your tomatoes, see a familiar face you haven’t run into in a while, or find a new jar of jam to take home. Some Saturdays there’s live music, other weekends bring kids’ activities like garden crafts and scavenger hunts, and sometimes a local chef will do a cooking demo using ingredients from the market.
The market is also a nonprofit that works to support local farmers and improve food access in the community. They accept SNAP/EBT and offer programs that stretch those benefits further, and at the end of each market day, leftover produce is donated to local organizations.
It’s a simple way to spend a Saturday morning, browse the tables, enjoy the Uptown skyline, let the kids explore, pick up something for dinner and maybe dessert too. The Uptown Farmers Market has its own rhythm, and it’s one that feels good to be part of.