Judie Mackie
For the News-Leader
The Fernandina Beach Market Place and the Wildlight Market Place in Yulee, each a vibrant heart of select Saturdays, will be welcoming visitors from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Get ready for some serious flavor at both markets.
The King of All Guacamole will be serving up fresh salsa, ceviche and their famous guacamole. Red Flags Spicy Foods will be heating things up with their selection of bottled hot sauces. And don’t miss Ferras Bakery for their delicious focaccia, spanakopita, fruit pastries, cookies, brownies and more.
Discover the charm of the Florida’s friendliest farmers market, nestled among the bustling side streets of historic downtown, where you will find more than 40 booths offering an expansive variety of delights on North Seventh Street, between Centre and Alachua streets. Feast your eyes on seasonal produce and wild-caught shrimp, including the coveted royal reds. Ready your taste buds with samples of flavored pecans, Hillary’s Chicago Pizza and Lizzie’s Cheese Straws. Indulge in a selection of beef, pork, chicken, duck, salmon, scallops and more. Brighten your home with house plants, patio plants, flowering baskets and conversational terrariums. Spruce up your space with succulents and colorful orchids, and don’t miss out on fresh salad mix, lettuce, kale, mushrooms, microgreens, strawberries and citrus.
Percy’s Spice Pantry will tempt you with aromatic salts, spice mixes and rubs to wake up your senses, and she blends a flavored oil that is perfect for dipping. SweetThangs will brew your you a cup of coffee just the way you like it, and expect local farm-fresh eggs from Epperson Farms, Bacons Select Produce and A Patient Journey Farm.
Driftwood, an acoustic subset of the popular Jacksonville rock ensemble, Good Wood, will be set up at the farmers market in Fernandina Beach. Look for father-and-son duo, Jim and Wesley Herrington, on rhythm and lead guitar. Accompanied by saxophonist Don Withers, all three musicians contribute to the blues, southern and classic rock vocals.
As we continue our journey back in time to celebrate the bicentennial of Fernandina Beach, we are featuring honey and the St. Marys Bee Ranch from Hilliard. In 1825, honey would have been a valuable item. It was used for body care, as a sweetener, a preservative and it also has medicinal properties.Stop by and learn more about this cherished commodity that you would find in a Fernandina Beach trading post 200 years ago. While not quite that old, St. Marys Bee Ranch is a local apiary with approximately 250 hives in wildflower, gallberry, tupelo and orange blossom. They carry liquid honey, bee pollen and honey comb as well as candles and some personal body products.
The Wildlight Market Place, located at 123 Tinker St., offers not just farmers market booths but arts and craft booths, too. You will find apparel, soaps, candles, jewelry, wood working, leather goods, home decor, glass ware, pottery and more. Wildlight is sensitive to the crafts being sold, and nothing imported, mass produced or resold is permitted. Every item is handcrafted or homemade. Come out and meet the talent behind the unique craftsmanship and learn directly from the artist where they find their inspiration. Come out Saturday and enjoy a fantastic food truck, arts, crafts, farmers and ranchers, all while Chet Poslusny of Acoustic Waves plays acoustic renditions of your favorite songs.
Both markets welcome well-behaved, leashed pets. If you would like to become a vendor in the Wildlight Market Place or the Fernandina Beach Market Place, or if your nonprofit would like to have a free booth space, please visit either website and complete an exhibitor application. More information is available online, on Facebook or on Instagram.