Carmel Farmers Market Rings in the Fall

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Staff and submitted

What’s better than getting an additional month of the Carmel Farmers Market? Getting an additional month of fresh and local products while kicking off the fall season at the market! And the folks at the CFM know how to make it festive and fun, even amid a pandemic.

Ispoke with Ron Carter, president of CFM, and he shared many of the incredible activities that the market will be hosting throughout October that are designed to engage and entertain the marketgoers while maintaining the safety protocols it has worked hard at implementing and practicing all season long.

What’s on Deck Next Month?

There is literally something for all ages at the market this October in the way of products and pleasure. The market bell will not only ring the opening of the market on Saturday, Oct. 3, it will ring in the fall activities that include a Lollipop Pull

that will take place every Saturday at the market. CFM will also host a Pie Walk on Saturday, Oct. 10 and on Saturday, Oct. 24.

“On each of the five Saturdays, we’re going to have a Lollipop Pull,” Carter enthused. “We will have pumpkins will little holes drilled into them, and the children will be able to pull a lollipop from them. If they pull one with a colored dot on the end, they will get to choose a small prize.”

Carter added, “On the 10th and 24th, we will have a Pie Walk—similar to a cake walk but with pumpkins instead of chairs. The person left will win a slice of apple pie. We will do that three times on both Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.”

Kids and adults alike will be able to learn from Carmel’s own carving master, Lee Saberson, the art of Pumpkin Carving on Saturday, Oct. 17. And be sure to bring in your prettiest leaf on Saturday, Oct. 24 for the Prettiest Leaf Contest and win a prize while displaying the rich and vibrant colors of fall in Carmel!

In addition to the fall festivities planned for October, CFM announced that it will revise the hours to 9 a.m. to noon to accommodate for the later sunrises and cooler temperatures.

Trick or Treat at the Market

Bring your tote bags and don your favorite costumes, then head out to the market this Halloween, because on Saturday, Oct. 31, CFM will host a costume parade for all ages, and the kids will be encouraged to trick or treat at the market, picking up a variety of treats from participating vendors!

For a complete list of activities and vendors, visit carmelfarmersmarket.com.