By Bryant Thigpen
Riverbend News
The Live Oak Farmers Market which used to be located at Tractor Supply in Live Oak will officially be opening up at a new location this Saturday, Oct. 3. The new location for the farmers market is the field next to the Old Train Depot on Highway 129 in downtown Live Oak.
The farmers market will begin this Saturday, Oct. 3, and will also be held on Oct. 10, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24. Vendor setup will be from 7-8 a.m., and guests will be able to shop from 8 a.m., until 3 p.m. Vendor pack-up will be from 3-4 p.m.
Local shoppers will be treated to the best locally made products in the south, according to Event Coordinator Christine Ellison. “Everything is home-grown or home-made,” she said. “We don’t allow anything that is a direct marketing business like Tupperware and such. It’s got to be made with your two hands or grown with your two hands.”
Some of the items shoppers will find at the farmers market include goat milk and goat soap, baked goods, arts and crafts and much more. Booths will also be spaced out six feet apart to accommodate for social distancing.
“We’re not going to have booths piled on top of each other, but we’re going to be socially distanced so everyone can feel safe when they shop,” she said. “Every vendor is also required to have hand pump sanitizers at their booths and masks are recommended, but not required.”
The farmers market enjoyed much success while it was located in front of Tractor Supply during the spring and fall of 2019. They had held one event in February of 2020 before the event cames to a halt due to the pandemic. Since Tractor Supply is not able to host the event at this time, Ellison has decided to keep the event going for the community, but at a new location.
“Right now, we’ve got about 30 vendors signed up and I believe it’s going to be great,” Ellison said. “We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the market.”
Anyone wishing to be a vendor may sign up by calling Ellison at (386) 688-3913, contact her by email at cmellis71@yahoo.com, or message her through Facebook by searching “Live Oak Florida Farmers Market.” There is a $15 fee per vendor to help cover the cost of the insurance for the use of the property and marketing fees.
The Historic Train Depot is located at 208 Ohio Avenue in Live Oak. The farmers market will be located in the field next to the station.