Explore Waupaca’s robust market scene

WAUPACA – With the warming temperatures, the season for outdoor markets is in full swing and there are many opportunities for residents to support local venders and farmers.

Turner’s Fresh Market
Turner’s Family Market turned 60 years old last year, and is still going strong. On Saturdays the market is open and the Turner’s Fresh Market grounds has music, food trucks, local vendors selling handmade items as well as Turner’s selling locally sourced items from around Wisconsin, vegetables and plants.
If you want to participate on Saturday’s at Turner’s Fresh Market you can email Turners@turnersfreshmarket.com.
The Saturday market is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., E208 State Road 54, and will go through the end of October.

Waupaca Area Farmers Market
The Waupaca Area Farmer Market started in 2010 and takes place every Saturday until Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Waupaca on East Fulton Street.
Dawn Reith, one of the farmer’s market administrators, said it was created by Farmshed of Waupaca to support local, sustainable food.
There are currently 40 vendors that alternate through the market over the season, Reith said, that sell a variety of items.
The vendor stands include local famers, jewelry makers, bakers, woodworkers, yarn crafters, jam and jelly makers, honey and maple syrup makers as well as local greenhouses and a local author.

Reith said the only requirement to be a vendor is that the item they are selling must be a handmade product or grown themselves.
“The market connects farmers, artisans and the community to create a resilient local marketplace,” she said.
Along with the Saturday markets occasionally they will also feature a band or musical artist, those dates include June 14, July 19 and Sept. 13 as of right now.
The cost to participate in the Saturday markets is $20 for one Saturday or $200 for the season, if you are interested in joining in on the market you can email the farmers market at managerwaupacafarmersmarket@gmail.com or you can call Reith at 715-580-0248.
For more information on the Waupaca area farmers market you can go to their website at www.waupacafarmersmarket.org, or visit them on Facebook at Waupaca Farmers Market.

Sunday Markets on the Green
The Indian Crossing Casino, E1171 County Road Q, is celebrating its 100 year anniversary this year, and with that they have added many new events to their Chain O’Lakes location.
One of the additions they added over the winter and spring were intermittent Farmers Market’s located within their large lake-side restaurant.
Beth Nash, marketing and public relations manager at Indian Crossing Casino, had the original idea as she loves markets and also wanted to collaborate with the Waupaca area to keep the Farmers Markets going into the colder seasons.
The market’s over the winter and spring featured drink and food specials, as well as venders selling things ranging from honey to handmade sock monkey’s.

They were often packed and became a popular way to break up the winter amongst residents.
Breanna Yeska, event manager and assistant general manager, hoped to continue on the popularity of the markets over the summer.
“Why end the weekend on a Saturday? Let’s continue the fun we had in the winter and spring and bring our event to the waterfront,” Yeska said. “With the request from many vendors, we were able to make select Sunday Markets on the Green a possibility.”
Yeska said the amount of vendors will vary, which is why they chose to call it a market series, as it will not follow the exact formula from the winter and spring markets.
The select market dates will be June 15, June 29, July 20, Aug. 3 and Aug 17.
The Sunday Markets on the Green will be outside next to the Brown House Bar on the grassy area next to Columbia Lake from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
This location is weather permitting, otherwise the event can be moved indoors should there be inclement weather.
There will also be live music at the majority of the Sunday markets from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. that will also be on the Green, Yeska said.
“We are excited to bring this experience to the King and Waupaca area,” Yeska said.
You can find reminders for upcoming dates and information on Facebook at Indian Crossing Casino as well as at their website www.indiancrossingcasino.com.

The 19th Hole Market
Brand new this year is the 19th Hole Market at Foxfire Golf Course and Par 4 Bistro, 201 Foxfire Drive.
Kaitey Colby, the hospitality services director at Par 4, said the name was chosen to help the market stand out amongst local markets as well as highlight the rolling hills of Foxfire Golf Course.
“I’ve always loved the idea of bringing together a variety of local vendors and helping to showcase their passions,” Colby said. “Supporting small businesses is so important, and creating another opportunity for people to shop local has always been something I’ve wanted to be a part of.”
The markets will be held on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the former Bonnie’s Bloomers property, which was acquired by the golf course in late 2023.

The cost is $10 if you would like to be in the parking lot or $20 for a table inside the former Bonnie’s Bloomers building.
Giving vendors an extra option should there be inclement weather.
Colby said they are always looking to add new vendors to the market.
The market features a variety of vendors that sell anything from handmade jewelry, clothes, home décor as well as vendors selling breads, jams and eggs to name a few things.
To participate in the market you can email Colby at Kaitey@par4resort.com.
“Our market is still new and evolving, and we’re learning as we go,” Colby said. “We always welcome new vendors and fresh ideas. The support we’ve received so far has been incredible, and we’re excited to see how it grows as more people come on board.”
You can find more information on their Facebook page at 19th Hole Farmers Market.