“Everybody deserves to eat food — delicious food, and food that isn’t in the interests of profits for a select few folks who are dominating the food industry,” says Sam Koentopp, farm programs manager for Urban Growers Collective’s South Chicago Farm Stand. “It’s important to us as an organization to help people. It’s why we get up and do this work every day.”
This year, affordability and accessibility are priorities for farmers markets as they contend with cuts to SNAP benefits for customers and rising gas prices and high costs for market materials. Urban Growers Collective operates a roving bus — called the Fresh Moves Mobile Market — that delivers produce to schools, community centers, churches and health clinics in Black and brown neighborhoods. Other market managers said they are excited to bring good things to the communities they serve, including complimentary rides for seniors to and from the Oak Park Farmers’ Market and free school uniforms at the Bronzeville City Market provided by the Struggling Black Girl Magic Club.
Here are 12 markets worth a visit this season. (Check out our annual guide to 100-plus farmers markets in Chicago and the neighboring suburbs — updated for 2026. Did we miss your favorite market? Let us know at farmers@wbez.org.)
City North
Andersonville Farmers Market
1500 W. Winona St.
Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m., May 13–Oct. 21
Accepts Link/SNAP; dogs are welcome
Can you hear them? A ukulele group, a brass quintet and an accordion player tickling keys with classics are all headed to the Andersonville Farmers Market, now entering its 17th year. Market manager Joan Oberndorf says she thinks people come back for the connection to the community. “People come and they meet up with their friends, they see their neighbors,” she says. “And there’s a connection with the people who are growing or producing the food.” Look out, too, for build-your-own butterfly habitats and drag storytime with Bubbie Merriam Levkowitz.
Lincoln Square Farmers Market
2301 W. Leland Ave.
Tuesdays (7 a.m.–12 p.m., May 5–Nov. 17), Thursdays (3–7 p.m., May 7–Oct. 29)
Accepts Link/SNAP; dogs are welcome
“The closer you get to your ingredients, the better you’re going to eat,” says manager Jeffery Tabels. This year’s Lincoln Square Farmers Market will host Lee’s Edible Acres (heirloom tomatoes, greens and sweet corn); Dorothy’s Bakery (sourdough); and Au Levain (pastries), among many vendors. During cooking demonstrations, in a nod to the grown-at-home vibe, chefs will call out the vendors whose produce they’re using. On Thursdays, live music is on tap featuring local bands Cuban Dogs and Tijuana Hercules.
City West
Mercadito D’Pulgas
3517 W. 18th St.
First Sunday of the month (noon-6 p.m., May 3–Oct. 4)
Dogs are welcome
New this season, Mercadito D’Pulgas arrives in North Lawndale. The brainchild of Esmirna Garcia, the founder of the Pilsen Community Market (which Mercadito D’Pulgas is replacing), the monthly Sunday market is starting its transition with a single farmer who will provide flowers, some produce, catnip and cat grass. But shoppers may delight in the market’s intriguing collection of sellers including Catrina Artesana, selling purses from Mexico made of recycled materials, and beekeepers Westside Bee Boys. A special focus of this market is pet-related goods: artisanal collars, leashes, dresses and jackets for animals, food and vaccines. While the market is outdoors, Lotz Rebel Katz Shelter, where Garcia is also board president, will host adoption events in conjunction with the market. The cat cafe inside the shelter sells tea and coffee to “help the shelter continue with its mission,” Garcia says.
City Center
City Market In Real Life
835 N. Michigan Ave., 4th floor
Thursdays, 4–8 p.m., July 9–Sept. 24
Dogs are welcome
Fans of the South Loop Night Market will be relieved to hear that the market hasn’t gone away; it’s just transformed: Inside Water Tower Place, more than 100 vendors are spread throughout 50,000 square feet at the inaugural City Market In Real Life (IRL). All produce sold is “100% from farms that are within a 200 mile radius of Chicago,” says Tina Feldstein, the co-founder and market manager of City Market IRL. “Everything’s absolutely the same in terms of the farmer presentation.” There’s also ready-to-eat dinner options including tamales, handmade tacos and vegan options, as well as baked goods, olive oils, chocolates and teas. “There’s that sense of identity when they’re like, ‘this is my market,’ or when I catch somebody talking with a vendor, I realize how friendly they’ve become,” Feldstein says. Free two-hour validated parking.
The Farmer at the Green
320 S. Canal St.
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., June 2–Sept. 29
Situated on a grassy oval at the foot of a high-rise, this market encourages hanging out: There are cafe tables and chairs, picnic blankets to borrow, bean bags, board games, books — basically, a cozy spot. Chalk artists sketch produce, and music is provided by live bands or a DJ playing energetic hits. Farmers “grow everything that they’re bringing to the market,” says market manager Naketa Washington. Washington recommends the brie from North Sky Farms. Say you want that brie (or anything sold at the market for that matter) but worry that it’ll get snatched up, Washington has a solution: “You can go online, you can pick the items [you want], then you can just pick them up at the market.” Pro tip: The Farmer at the Green has bathrooms with plumbing, perfect for families.
Daley Plaza Farmers Market
50 W. Washington St.
Thursdays, 7 a.m.–2 p.m., May 21–Oct. 22
Accepts Link/SNAP; dogs are welcome
Gardeners of all experience levels are invited to the market’s Daley Plaza Seed Swap held on May 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to “exchange seeds, shop seedlings and connect with fellow growers,” according to the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, which produces the popular annual market in the Loop. Offerings at the market’s 48th season include fresh seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal goods (natural skincare, apple cider and preserves) and prepared food (onigiri, bagels, smoothies, grilled cheese, gluten-free empanoli, panzerotti and tamales). There’s also free compost drop off.
City South
Bronzeville Farmers Market
4702 S. Martin Luther King Dr.
Sundays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., June 7–Sept. 27
Accepts Link/SNAP; dogs are welcome
If you’ve wanted to grow your own produce but don’t know where to start, stop by the Bronzeville Farmers Market. Alongside nonprofit Chicago Grows Food, they’ll be giving out seeds to give people “agency and ability to grow within their own homes,” said Elijah-Michelle Muller, the market’s coordinator. This year, the market is also will also host South Side’s Watermelon Man selling fresh watermelon; community organization Read & Run Chicago (July 19); Struggling Black Girl Magic Club, which will distribute free school uniforms on Aug. 9 (first come, first served); and resident chef Mona Baptiste cooking vegetarian recipes “at least once a month,” Muller says. Be sure to check out 11 a.m. performances from Diva Dance Bronzeville on June 6, 14 and 28 and July 12, 19 and 26.
Urban Growers Collective’s South Chicago Farm Stand
9001 S. Mackinaw Ave.
Saturdays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., May 16–Oct. 24
Accepts Link/SNAP; dogs are welcome
“Accessibility is the name of the game,” says farm programs manager Sam Koentopp. And they certainly are accessible: Seasonal produce such as arugula, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, turnip and mustard greens will be on board the Urban Grower Collective’s Fresh Moves Mobile Market; the bus will park Mondays 1-3 p.m. at Thresholds Austin (334 N. Menard Ave.); Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.-noon at Thresholds South (734 W. 47th St.); Thursdays 10:30-noon at Trina Davila (4300 W. North Ave.) and 3-4:30 p.m. at Educare Chicago (5044 S. Wabash Ave.); and Fridays 10 a.m.-noon at Chicago Family Health (9199 S. Exchange Ave.). The mobile market and the farm stand, located at Clara Schafer Park in South Chicago, offer a sliding scale for anyone needing financial assistance. For people who can’t shop for themselves at the mobile market, Koentopp says, “We can take their orders from outside the bus and do the shopping on their behalf.”
Suburbs North
Mundelein Farmers Market
E. Park St. & N. Seymour Ave.
Saturdays, 8 a.m.–12 p.m., June 6–Sept. 19
Dogs are welcome
Creative kids, rejoice: For the fourth year, the Mundelein Farmers Market hosts its Little Makers Market, open to artisans ages 6 and up, on July 11 and Aug. 22; past goods for sale have included handmade bracelets, 3-D printed work and crochet pieces. At the Educational Little Farmers Club for 3-to-12-year-olds, kids get a badge stamped every week to earn “market dollars” to save up for purchases. “A lot of our vendors know about the dollars, so they’ll have maybe a small cookie that’s $2 so kids can spend it and take something home that day,” says market manager Rebecca Merkau. Finally, keep an eye out for new vendors selling pickles, beef jerky, olive oil and syrups.
Suburbs West
Oak Park Farmers’ Market
460 Lake St.
Saturdays, 7 a.m.–1 p.m., May 23–Nov. 14
Accepts Link/SNAP
Celebrating 51 years this May, the Oak Park Farmers’ Market will run two weeks later into November for the first time. “We really do focus on just being a producer’s market,” says Jack Carmody, the market’s manager. “Everything at the market is grown or raised by the vendors — or caught in the instance of fish.” This year’s special events include Go Green Days (May 23 and 30); a corn roast (Aug. 8); a pie bake-off (Sept. 19) and the annual “stone soup” event, where soup is made from the ingredients sold at the market and ladled out to customers free (Nov. 14). Carmody says there’s a pickling demonstration in the works for July. “We’ll hopefully be able to send people home with kits,” he says. Seniors can get free rides (with a suggested donation of $1) to the market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m; call Monday to Friday during regular business hours to schedule a pickup. The service is available to residents of Oak Park and River Forest.
Aurora Farmers Market
65 Water St.
Saturdays, 8 a.m.–12 p.m., June 6–Oct. 3
Accepts Link/SNAP; dogs are welcome
“Whenever I ask anyone what they like the most about our market — besides getting their favorite products — they always say we just have a great sense of community,” says market manager Felicia Freitag. “Everyone’s always happy to see each other, whether it’s the vendors and the patrons and staff. We’re all just happy to come together every Saturday morning.” This year, a 25-year-old tortoise named Franklin visiting from the Phillips Park Zoo will be one of the special attractions on the fourth Saturday each month. Also new this year, Microcosm Farm is selling sauerkraut and kimchi, and the Fiesta at the Market will celebrate Hispanic culture. The market also runs on Wednesdays at a different location at 1999 W. Galena Blvd. (10 a.m.-2 p.m., July 1-Sept. 2).
Suburbs South
Palos Heights Farmers Market
12217 S. Harlem Ave.
Wednesdays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., May 13–Oct. 14
Accepts Link/SNAP; dogs are welcome
While Palos Heights Farmers Market will buzz with live music on the first Wednesday of the month, Aug. 5 will be extra special: To celebrate National Farmers Market week, a brass quintet will play in the morning and acoustic guitarist Dave Gorka in the afternoon. From June 3 to Aug. 19, kids can compete for prizes in a themed scavenger hunt. Shoppers using the market’s punch card can enter a raffle to win samples from the vendors, including olive oil, spices and seasonings, green chile pasta sauces, handmade jewelry and freshly roasted nuts. “I love being able to give something back to the community,” says Rachel Bauer, the Palos Heights superintendent of recreation. “But I also just love the kids’ smiles when they come all excited about something that you’ve helped organize.”