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Third Annual Riverwalk Market Fair Opens June 2, 2012

Northfield’s Riverwalk Market Fair kicks off the 2012 season on Saturday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Located on Bridge Square in the heart of historic Northfield, this one-of-a-kind open-air market runs every Saturday from June through October. Each Saturday features a different combination of organic and sustainably grown produce from local farmers, artisan foods including breakfast pastries and desserts, seasonal flowers and a juried selection of the region’s top artists including ceramics, watercolors, oil, acrylic and mixed media paintings, prints, photography, glasswork, textiles, wearable art, garden sculpture and hand-crafted jewelry.  The Saturday Market features live musical entertainment by local performers as well as family-friendly activities and special events.

This year, in keeping with its mission to provide a marketing venue for Northfield’s array of fine artists, food artisans, organic farmers and producers, Riverwalk Market Fair is showcasing emerging artists in their own tent, as well as young entrepreneur agriculturists, food artisans and chefs in the new Youth Tent.

Now in its third year of operation, Riverwalk Market Fair has become a favorite Saturday meeting place where neighbors and friends gather over a cup of coffee and a pastry, buy freshly picked produce and see what local artists have to offer.  The fair has become a popular weekend destination for a growing number of visitors from the Twin Cities, Rochester, Lakeville, Fairbault, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Red Wing, the five-State area and beyond.  Last year Riverwalk Market Fair drew an estimated 20,000 visitors, nearly double the number in 2010.

After October 27 the fair moves indoors and continues through December. Check the new Riverwalk Market Fair website, http://www.RiverwalkMarketFair.org each week to get the upcoming Saturday’s schedule of events. The list of vendors who will be there, as well stories and profiles of the artists and farmers featured each week. Check out Facebook and Twitter to find out what visitors are saying and discover what’s happening behind the scenes.

Harvest Festival!

Riverwalk Market Fair‘s Harvest Festival will be held on Saturday, October 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the Cannon River in downtown Northfield. The weekly artists’ and farmers’ market is planning a spectacular harvest celebration full of family-friendly events including: hands-on activities and games for kids, wool spinning demos, apple cider pressing and a community painting project, to name a few. Visitors to Riverwalk Market Fair can stroll and shop amid a plentiful array of goods including farmers’  fresh seasonal produce and artisan foods including pastries, jams, mustards and honey as well as the best of regional fine art and craft with juried pieces in mixed media, paintings, pottery, hand crafted jewelry and photography. Musicians will add to the open air autumn celebration. For more information visit www.riverwalkmarketfair.org.

This Week at Market Fair – Oct. 1

Grab a cup of coffee before perusing the art scene at Riverwalk Market Fair this Saturday from Premiere Coffee Café. Brewed just moments before the cup is put in your hand, you know you’re getting it fresh! And who could resist that aroma permeating through the brisk autumn air at Market Fair? Plus, it’s certified organic and fair trade.  In addition to gourmet coffee, Premiere Coffee Café also serves iced coffee, hot chocolate, cold water and organic juices.

Next, quiz yourself at the Exhibit of Mathematical Art at the Welcome Tent starting at 10:00 a.m. The handsome collection of interactive puzzles and games, made of Minnesota hardwoods, can be enjoyed by all ages. Loren Larson, professor emeritus of mathematics at St. Olaf College and mathematical puzzle expert, constructed the inquisitive pieces while working with award-winning mathematics writer Barry Cipra. The puzzles and games can be appreciated on a number of levels, from novice to expert. The display will include building blocks for sculpture and design, put-together and take-apart puzzles, arrangement puzzles, sequential movement puzzles, sliding block puzzles, and two-person games.

Also, the Rotary Club of Northfield is hosting a fundraiser (a chance to win a 2011 Chrysler 200) at Riverwalk Market Fair this Saturday. The proceeds will benefit numerous Rotary initiatives and community groups including: Polio Eradication, Youth Exchange, NHS Student Scholarships, Bike Trails, Disaster Relief, Literacy, Northfield Union of Youth (Key) Shelter Box, & the Soccer Fields.

For more information visit Market Fair’s blog at www.riverwalkmarketfair.org. Fan us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @RiverMktFair.

This Week at the Market – Sept. 17

This week Riverwalk Market Fair is abuzz with excitement as Schoolhouse Apiary brings a live bee observation hive to the Fair! Market Fair goers can safely see nature at work. Kids can even zip into a real beekeeping suit and explore the bee equipment starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Welcome Tent this Saturday in downtown Northfield. To sweeten the deal there’s honey tastings for everyone. Plus, Schoolhouse Apiary makes 100% beeswax products such as candles, bars, ornaments and more. Catch more information on KYMN‘s ArtZany! Radio show this Friday as beekeeper Laura Heiman explains the delicate art of managing bees and their favorite nectar gathering spot — a wildflower field within our region at the historic Valley Grove Church and how the hives are kept on certified organic land. Also, hear from watercolor artist Kathy Miller who has her own knack for capturing nature — and all its inspiring beauty — with just the stroke of her paintbrush.

Of course, live music adds color to the Market Fair scene. Randall Ferguson will strum up an array of century-old tunes. He’ll be joined by Paul Seguin who plays original artistic music with a blues & jazz influence.

For more upcoming activities, check out Riverwalk Market Fair’s calendar.