Farmers markets in full bloom
<p>Stalks of rhubarb are on display at the Purple Frog Gardens booth at the Whitefish Farmers Market on Thursday, May 29, in the Pin & Cue parking lot.</p>
<p>Robert Dent of Kalispell plays the guitar at the Kalispell Farmers Market on Saturday, May 26.</p>
<p>Boxes of tomatoes are on display at the Mountainview Gardens booth at the Kalispell Farmers Market on Saturday, May 26.</p>
<p>Donna Harrison of Kalispell picks out flowers on Saturday, May 26, at the Kalispell Farmers Market.</p>
<p>From left, Alice Lesowski of Eureka and Toni and Sean Mickow of Kalispell stroll through the Kalispell Farmers Market on Saturday, May 26.</p>
<p>Minerva Blends Handmade soaps by Tatiana Zolotareff are on display at the Kalispell Farmers Market on Saturday, May 26.</p>
<p>Susan Bonin takes inventory at her Potting Studio stand on Wednesday, May 23, at the Swan River Market in Bigfork.</p>
<p>Several varieties of peppers are for sale at the Whitefish Farmers Market on Thursday, May 29, in the Pin & Cue parking lot.</p>
<p>Vicky Hoover of Whitefish picks out flowers at the Whitefish Farmers Market on Thursday, May 29, in the Pin & Cue parking lot.</p>
With summer right around the corner, gardens and greenhouses across the Flathead Valley are already beginning to produce. That bounty is on display throughout the valley at weekly farmers markets.
Most markets also feature arts, crafts, food and entertainment. Following is a guide to Northwest Montana’s markets.
Kalispell
• The Kalispell Farmers Market takes place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays in the west end of the Kalispell Center Mall parking lot. Call 881-4078 for further information.
• A second farmers market will start June 19 and will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays in Depot Park in conjunction with the city’s Picnic in the Park series.
Columbia Falls
• The Columbia Falls Farmers Market is open from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays starting June 14 at Glacier Discovery Square on Nucleus Avenue. Visit www.firstbestplace.org or call 892-1363 for further information.
Whitefish
• The Whitefish Farmers Market takes place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Pin & Cue parking lot on U.S. 93. Call 862-3451 or 862-5139 for additional information.
• The Downtown Farmers Market runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. This market has its own website; visit www.whitefishfarmersmarket.org or call 871-9744 for more information.
Bigfork
• The Saturday market takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the high school parking lot, 600 Commerce St.
• There is also a market from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Swan River Community Hall, at the intersection of Montana 83 and Swan River Road. Visit www.bigforkfarmersmarket.com for more information.
Eureka
• The Eureka Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its markets from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays in Riverside Park. Call (406) 889-4636 for more information.
Polson
• The “original” Polson Farmers Market takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays in downtown Polson. Call 675-0177 or 261-5700 for more information.