News

Farmers markets open Saturday; city adds Art Walk

Opening Day at the Mills River Farm Market is Saturday, May 2. [RIVERVIEW FARMS]

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 1, 2026

Area farmers markets open this weekend, offering a cornucopia of fruits, vegetables, flowers, plant sets, honey and other products.

Hendersonville Farmers Market opens its seventh season on May 2 on Maple Street at the Historic Depot in the Historic 7th Avenue District. Around 45 vendors are prepared to sell local food products including eggs, herbs, produce, plants, baked goods, coffee, meat, honey and more.  

In addition to dozens of local producers and entrepreneurs, the lively atmosphere of Opening Day will be enhanced with live music by Andy Bracken at the music tent bringing the perfect soundtrack to opening day.

New this year is the 7th Avenue District Open House and Art Walk from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Hendersonville Farmers Market is partnering with the Art League of Henderson County and Art on 7th to host the first 7th Avenue District Open House & Art Walk alongside Opening Day of the Farmers Market. 

This self-guided experience invites visitors to explore Downtown’s Creative Edge, where local artists will be demonstrating inside businesses, along sidewalks and throughout the district. Guests can begin at the Market Information Booth in front of the Historic Depot to pick up an Art Walk passport, check out all of the stops to be entered into a drawing for door prizes.  

Throughout the morning, visitors can meet and watch more than a dozen artists at work, including: 

• Sheri Pannone – Jewelry making near the market entrance  
• Phillip Hacker – Wheel throwing ceramics at Art Place Gallery parking lot  
• Robyn Crawford - Demonstrating pouring paint at Art place gallery 
• Shannon Pagano – Painting and batik at Mini Batch Cafe  
• Irwin Weinberger – Plein air painting along Maple Street  
• Rowan Sheppard – Wheel throwing on 7th Avenue at Botanica  
• Judi Moolten – Self-expressive artwork at Grateful Mindset Properties  
• Kate McKean – Hand-building ceramics at Maple & 7th  
• Annie Wenz – Interactive art and music throughout the market  
• Ann Rodgers – Collage demonstration at Claywood  

 Additional featured artists at Art on 7th include:  

• Laurie Yeates Adams - Oils and concentrating on the figure 
• Libby Skamfer - Acrylic and various mixed media painting on both canvas and cradled wood panels 
• JonQPublik - Works with alcohol inks. Jon will be providing a demonstration of his work on Saturday 
• Jim Brandon - A dynamic wood artist and woodturner 
• AnnMarie LeBlanc - A painter who works in oil and cold wax 

Hendersonville Farmers Market takes place each Saturday, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the Historic Train Depot on Maple Street from May through October, with two holiday markets slated for Nov. 21 and Dec. 5. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.  

The Mills River Farm Market has 27 vendors selling produce, flowers, honey, meat products, soap, baked goods, home remedies, plants, herbs, seafood, crafts and more.  The market happens 8 a.m.-noon May-October at Mills River Elementary School, 94 Schoolhouse Road.