Canberra’s favourite farmers Market, Capital Region Farmers Market, celebrates 20 years in 2024, and is getting ready to mark the occasion with a very special celebration to be held on Saturday 16th March.
“Our 20th Birthday is really all about celebrating how much we’ve truly enjoyed being part of and supporting the Canberra community over all these years,” said Capital Region Farmers Market Manager, Sarah Power.
“In 2024, we’re celebrating 20 years supporting farmers, makers and producers of the Canberra Region – that’s 20 years providing Canberrans and their families with the best and freshest produce each weekend, and 20 years supporting worthy community projects via our Founders, the Rotary Club of Hall.
“It’s been a very fulfilling 20 years for Market organisers who started out in 2004 with just 15 stalls and around 850 customers. Today we have over 130 stallholders on our books and welcome up to 6000 visitors through the gates each Saturday.
“All our visitors have contributed immensely to what is a warm, buzzing and welcoming Market, but more importantly a Market that truly makes a difference. Over the past 20 years, Capital Region Farmers Market has provided close to $4million in funding to local, regional, national and international projects via its Founder, Rotary Club of Hall,” Sarah said proudly.
Market organisers have been reflecting on the past two decades and the many ups and downs that have bought the market stallholders and regular customers together each week. There’s been everything from live cooking demonstrations, celebrity chefs including Stephanie Alexander and Antonio Carluccio, A Market recipe book, buzzing celebrations for World Bee Day, two relocations out to GIO Stadium, a young chefs competition and grants to support local schools in their food and farming endeavours.
“We weathered the Covid-19 pandemic when many did not, continuing to support our farmers and their families, and never wavering in providing Canberrans with the best and freshest food each week. We supported our many stallholders through drought and the devastating bushfires of Summer 2019/20, meaning they could come back to us once they rebuilt,” Sarah reflected.
During its time, the Market has been home to over 600 stallholders including local and regional farmers from in and around the Canberra region and further afield. Original stallholders from that very first Market include Homeleigh Grove, Mowbray Park Produce, Bryan Loader, Jindebah Hills Coffee and Treetops Apples.
The Market’s official celebrations will take place at Market on Saturday 16th March 2024, and Canberrans are invited along to enjoy the 20th Birthday Cake competition judging, family activities including face painting and colouring in, exclusive birthday treats and giveaways from the many talented makers, exclusive 20th birthday merchandise and local entertainment including performers and musicians. And of course, there will be over 100 stallholders providing fresh Autumn produce galore.
“When it comes down to it, our Market wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of our customers, some of whom have been coming to Market since the very beginning. We welcome all Canberrans to come and mark this milestone with us and have a bit of fun on our 20th birthday,” Sarah concluded.
Capital Region Farmers Market is open Saturdays throughout the year, 7am-11.30am at Exhibition Park in Canberra. The 20th Birthday celebrations will take place on Saturday 16th March 2024. For more information, visit www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
