It’s been a great run, but the 2018 regular season of Bridgeport Farmers Market comes to a close this Sunday, Oct. 14. An array of market products – from late-harvest produce, pumpkins and flowers to farm-raised beef and chicken to handcrafted items – will be available for purchase.

 

Made-to-order brunch and live music are also staple activities of the market and will be on tap 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Sunday. As he was last Sunday, Nat Frederick will be this week’s featured musician. Another notable feature of this week’s market is that orders will be taken for Thanksgiving and holiday turkeys.

 

The market grounds are located just outside of 100 Market Place in Charles Pointe, which houses the Greater Bridgeport Convention & Visitors Bureau/Connect-Bridgeport.

 

“We look forward to ending our 10^th regular season with more vendors than ever,” said Debbie Workman of the BFM board of directors. “We’re so happy to be up there in the new parking lot. It worked out so well for us, giving us more visibility. Vendors are already talking about our 11^th season, which starts in May.”

 

But before that, market goers can look forward to the Nov. 11 kickoff to the winter market season.

 

Though there will not be chefs’ demos or a presence by the POP “Power of Produce” Club, there will be plenty of activity during the indoor market season.

 

“We’ll still have West Virginia musicians at each market and, of course, our Sunday brunch, courtesy of Bridgeport Conference Center,” Workman said.

 

Providing live bluegrass, folk and country music through the winter months will be John Posey, who last year played with Hillary Kay.

 

With the exception of December, the winter market will be held 11 a.m. through 2 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month, inside Bridgeport Conference Center in Charles Pointe. As it is closer to Christmas, Dec. 16 has been chosen as December’s market day, Workman said.

 

“People can get a jumpstart on holiday gift items, all made by West Virginia artisans,” Workman said. “We’ll have handcrafted jewelry and wood items. We also now have a furniture maker who makes things like book cases, trunks and hope chests. And we’ll have West Virginia made pottery, cutting boards, candle holders and natural body products. It runs the gamut, really.”

 

Shoppers can also find a limited amount of seasonal produce, farm-raised meats, farm-fresh eggs and a selection of items made by local bakers.

 

On average, the summer market featured about 40 vendors and 30 or more are expected for at least the first couple of winter markets, billed as the holiday markets. The November market has become known as the Thanksgiving market and the December event as the Ugly Christmas Sweater Market.

 

Workman mentioned a couple of Bridgeport Farmers Market events. Recently held was the 2018 Wild and Wonderful farm-to-table dinner, which was a huge success and raised funds as a jumpstart to the next market season. The BFM will also participate in the Associated Businesses of Bridgeport Light Up Night, slated for Nov. 29 in downtown Bridgeport. At their booth will be information about the winter market events.