Around Town: Tampa Bay Farmers Markets

A few years ago when I was living in South Tampa, I discovered the Hyde Park Outdoor Market. This outdoor event happens on the first Sunday of every month in historic Hyde Park Village and has fresh fruits and vegetables, live music, craft vendors, food trucks, local businesses, and even some bounce houses and kid-friendly activities. Back then when I started attending, I was a young twenty-something who slept in ‘til 10:00 a.m. and would roll out of bed to stroll around town with my girlfriends. The Hyde Park Outdoor Market was a fun spot for a meetup and brunch.
But years later, I’m still enjoying this activity, only my sons are my usual companions these days (and a girlfriend or two, every now and then), and I have migrated to other outdoor markets around the Tampa Bay area.

This is such a great, simple weekend outing that gets the family out and about with very little effort or cost (besides the food or goods you might purchase).

We love to walk around and see all of the vendors – even with the boys in the stroller they are very stimulated by the sights. We typically grab a bite to eat at my favorite mobile food vendor, Riddle on the Griddle. If you like grilled cheese, you need to try this. Now. Their homemade pony bread filled with melted cheddar and other creative ingredients (goat cheese, apple slices, walnuts, avocado, bacon, etc.) are so decadent. So we get our grilled cheese and some strawberry lemonade and grab a seat by the fountain where we can enjoy the ambiance of the live music and do some people watching.

The Hyde Park and Seminole Heights Outdoor Markets are also home to the Tampa Bay Kids Market, which is a very cool section of vendors. Children can set up their own booths and sell handmade items, family-oriented vendors can offer their products, and there are activities, crafts, and tons of other things to check out.

Another bonus about the Hyde Park Outdoor Market location in particular is that it’s just a few steps from Kate Jackson Park which is home to an excellent playground and low-key splash pad. Especially in late spring and summer, we love to go cool off in the splash area after walking around in the Tampa heat. It’s the perfect way to end our outing and my sons inevitably fall asleep right after we get back in the car, which to me is a big sign of a successful activity.

There are Tampa Bay farmers markets all over the area!

During the Week

Parkesdale Farm Market
3702 W. Baker St., Plant City

Daily 9 a.m.to 6 p.m.

The Twilight Market
Whole Foods Market in Carrollwood 3802 Northdale Blvd, Tampa, FL 33624

Held on the 2nd Monday of each month from 5pm – 8:30pm

Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market
Gulfport’s Waterfront District on Beach Blvd. below 28th Ave. South

Held every Tuesday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm – October – May, 9:00 am-2:00 pm – June – September

Downtown Dunedin
John L. Lawrence Pioneer Park, Main Street and Douglas Avenue Dunedin, FL 34698

Held on Fridays and Saturdays each week from November until June each year from 9am-2pm

On Saturdays

St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market
(thru 8/29) Williams Park (1st Ave N & 3rd St). , St. Petersburg

Held every Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ybor City Saturday Market
1901 19th St., Tampa
Held every Saturday May – September, 9am – 1pm , October – April, 9am – 3pm

Hernando County Farmers’ Market
2450 Commercial Way, Spring Hill

Held Saturdays year-round 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

North Tampa Market
Carrollwood Cultural Center- 4537 Lowell Rd., Tampa, FL 33618

Held on every second Saturday of each month, Year round from 10am-2pm

Fresh Market at Wiregrass
28211 Paseo Drive, Suite 100 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543

Every first & third Saturday each month. First Saturday only Nov. to Jan. from 10am – 2pm

On Sundays

Corey Avenue Sunday Market on St. Pete Beach
Corey Avenue Between Boca Ciega Ave and Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach, Florida 33706

Held on every Sunday of each week from 10am – 3pm

The Fresh Market at Hyde Park Village
Inside Hyde Park Village, 742 South Village Circle, Tampa, FL 33604

Held on every first Sunday of each month, year round from 10am-3pm

Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market
The Bier Garten at Southern Brewing & Wine Making, 4500 N. Nebraska Ave. Tampa, FL 33603

Held on Sundays in May through September from 11 am – 3 pm

Tampa Downtown Market
400 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, Fl 33602

Every Third Sunday, 10am to 3pm – October to May

Next time you are looking for something to do outside of the house that doesn’t take a lot of time or planning, check out one of our local open-air markets. Have you already visited one? Which is your favorite?