The big question looming over the Tuesday Market for much of last season was its location for 2026. Having been on the Healdsburg Plaza for years, and associated with that spot, moving it was not something the management, vendors or the community wanted. The city felt strongly, however, that the new Foley Family Community Pavilion should be the site for both markets, having built the facility specifically for them.
With the Saturday Market underway since March and experiencing strong attendance, the Tuesday Market is set to begin on May 12 at the Pavilion, not in the Plaza as it has been in years past.
What all are discovering is the delightfulness of the Pavilion. Having a beautiful covered space to protect vendors’ goods, plus a large outside parking area filled with more vendors, makes for a comfortable shopping and hang-out experience. There is something extremely welcoming about this venue, and very right for the markets. Tuesdays in this spot will feel quite different, but also very perfect.
Those who’ve attended Saturday markets may be a bit turned around by the Tuesday layout, as it’s completely different from its weekend counterpart. On Saturdays, all the farms are outside: in the parking lot or on North Street. With more than 20 certified produce vendors, they’re located all together, as required by the Department of Agriculture. Many of them have large vehicles or trucks, and require double or triple spaces. Hence, none are under the Pavilion.
Tuesday, there are about a dozen farms represented, with smaller vehicles and smaller booth needs, so most produce will be under the Pavilion. The mid-week market has always been a slightly smaller version of Saturday’s, with many overlapping vendors. This year, it will be bigger and better than ever.
Baked goods abound as Quail & Condor returns as well as the wonderful Downtown Bakery and Creamery. There’s an increased amount of prepared food across the board, so breakfast, brunch or lunch will be a primary focus. And there will be everything from breakfast burritos to pizza, crepes, dim sum, salads and more. Now open until 1pm, Tuesday Market is an ideal place to grab a meal and do some shopping.
Two new farms are represented this season, so the produce options are ever expanding. There’s also a new meat vendor and a coffee vendor. Edgeworks Sharpening Service for knives, scissors and tools will also be a regular Tuesday vendor.
The biggest concern for this market is attendance. Having been on the Plaza, where tourists could pop out their hotel room door, or employees working downtown could shop on their breaks, the move may take some adjusting to. The market management hopes customers will make the extra effort to walk less than two blocks to the new location.
Open 9am-1pm, every Tuesday from May 12 through Sept. 29, this market will be the best it’s ever been.
Janet Ciel is the manager of the Healdsburg Farmers Market, healdsburgfarmersmarket.org.
