Get Outside and Shop: Concord’s Open-Air Markets Now Open
Fresh food, art and other good available at the Capital City’s Outdoor Markets
Warmer weather is here, bringing with it more opportunities to get outside. It also brings local merchants into city parks and thoroughfares with the return of Concord’s open-air markets and street festivals.
Concord Farmers Market
Held every Saturday between May and October from 8:30 a.m. to noon, the Concord Farmers Market is one of the oldest and largest farmers markets in the state. You’ll find produce, meat, fish, baked goods, maple syrup, wine and even dog treats at the vendor stalls. Located on Capitol Street next to the New Hampshire State House, the Concord Farmers Market has about 40 vendors lined up for the 2021 season, offering a range of food products and handmade wares for sale.
The City of Concord’s mask mandate is in effect until June 1, 2021, however, masks are not required at the market. The Concord Farmers Market asks that shoppers wear a mask if that makes them comfortable or if they are unable to maintain a distance of six feet from others.
For more information about the Concord Farmers Market, go to www.concordfarmersmarket.com.
Concord Arts Market
For more than 10 years, the Concord Arts Market has provided an open-air venue for artists around the region to display and sell their work. This year, the monthly market will be held in Rollins Park, allowing the event to grow with more artists, artisans and makers, as well as the addition of entertainment and food. More than 60 vendors have signed on to participate in the market in 2021.
The first Concord Arts Market will be held on June 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other dates in Rollins Park include July 19, September 18, and October 16. From August 19-21, the Concord Arts Market will be part of the annual Concord Market Days Festival and will be located on Main and Pleasant streets from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Visitors can check the event’s website, www.concordartsmarket.net for updates.
Market Days Festival
For nearly 50 years, Concord’s Market Days Festival has brought people from around the city and around the region together to celebrate the great food, entertainment, art, and shopping Concord has to offer. Scheduled for August 19-21 this year, the Market Days Festival will include much of what people have grown to love about the event, with Covid safety protocols in place to ensure all attendees, vendors, and volunteers are safe throughout the event.
This free event is held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the three days, with a full slate of live entertainment and food vendors. Downtown stores bring their goods out to the streets and visitors are free to stroll Main and Pleasant streets, which are closed to vehicle traffic. With a KidZone for younger visitors, musical acts and an outdoor movie presented by Red River Theatres, it’s an event the whole family will enjoy. Intown Concord presents market Days: More info at marketdaysfestival.comand intownconcord.org
Concord Multicultural Festival
The Concord Multicultural Festival is an annual event on Sunday, September 19thfrom 11 am to 4 pm to celebrate the beauty of diversity in the Capital Region, featuring foods, performances, art, activities, and parade of flags, all presented by local community members. https://concordnhmulticulturalfestival.org
Capital Arts Fest
Closing out the summer outdoor festival season in Concord will be the Capital Arts Fest, a free event with locations throughout the city aimed at celebrating and highlighting art and artists from around the region. Hosted by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce and in collaboration with the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, Capital Center for the Arts and the Concord Community Music School, the event will be held September 25 to 26.
Movies, music, and shopping will be available both indoors and out with Covid safety protocols in place throughout the event. Painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, furniture and fiber arts are just some of the works you will find, produced by New Hampshire’s finest artists and artisans.
For more information about Concord’s outdoor shopping, festivals and local businesses, go to www.concordnhchamber.com.
