FULL FAMLY FUN AWAITS AT GARDEN RIDGE MARKET DAYS
WORDS BY EMILY TREADWAY | PHOTOS BY KIMBERLY SUTA
Garden Ridge Market Days is more than a farmers market, it’s an event for the whole family. With indoor and outdoor booths and pop-ups, this market is perfect to attend in any season or weather. Located a short drive northeast of San Antonio in Garden Ridge, the Garden Ridge Market Days is the largest market in the San Antonio area. Held year-round on the second Saturday of every month at the Northeast Bible Church, the market opens at 9:30 a.m., just in time for a late Saturday morning breakfast and stays open until 2:30 p.m.
Garden Ridge Market Days is family-friendly with plenty of activities to entertain the kids. There are often photo ops with favorite characters such as Spiderman, Bluey and the Easter Bunny. Every month, children can enjoy face painting, pony rides and scavenger hunts. Market manager Kim Wood said the Garden Ridge Market scavenger hunt was one of the first of its kind, created during the pandemic as a safe, adaptable activity. It was a big hit that has now become a monthly staple.
Those acquainted with the Pearl and Alamo Heights farmers markets may see familiar vendors, such as Goatalicious Dairy and Cheesery, but with over 200 vendors offering everything from fresh meat and produce to fresh flowers and handmade crafts, customers at the Garden Ridge Market Days are sure to discover new and exciting foods and products to sample and buy. Wood prides herself on the vast variety of options at her market days and encourages visitors to come early. Early birds have first pick of the fresh produce and goods. Pastry Corner, now a brick-and- mortar store in Cibolo, got its start as a pop-up at the Garden Ridge Market Days and they still attend. Their baked goods often sell out within the first hour and they’re not the only ones.
If you love a red, ripe, juicy tomato, Heritage Tomatoes of San Antonio specializes in just that. “They sell big, beautiful heirloom tomatoes,” says Wood, “but they’re also usually gone in an hour.”
Don’t despair if you’re not a Saturday morning early bird, either, as Garden Ridge Market has many more choices for you to buy tomatoes and produce, including Lilly the Kid Farms and Balboa Farms. Lilly the Kid Farms is also one of three regular vendors that sells microgreens. If you prefer your fruits and vegetables already prepared, Sweet E’s Provisions is just one of several vendors that takes the best fruits and vegetables and turns them into delicious jams, pickles and canned vegetables.
If you’re hoping to find some meat to accompany your vegetables, the market’s got you covered there, too. Hickory Lake Grass-Fed Beef is a family-owned cattle ranch that sells not only the best in grass-fed beef but also bone broths and select organ meats. If beef’s not what’s for dinner, Signature Springs Farms provides fresh pork, chicken and eggs.
Those interested in more natural remedies instead of the standard over-the-counter options may find it with medicinal mushrooms grown in Mason jars, homemade elderberry syrups or local honey.
Rick the Beekeeper is a honey vendor at Garden Ridge Market Days, but he also provides bee removal services and helps others interested in becoming apiarists. Additionally, Rick the Beekeeper builds and sells beehives.
To help keep up your strength as you navigate the market, food trucks are at the ready. Begin your day at Northern D’Lights Coffee trailer and then move on to The Grateful Flow of Foods, which serves nachos, quesadillas and more. The Wacked Out Weiner sells hot dogs and sausages next door to the Tasty Balls trailer, which makes gourmet fried potato balls. From pizza to barbecue, Filipino and Cajun food, you’ll most assuredly find something to get your mouth watering.
Garden Ridge Market Days not only supports these local businesses and farmers, but each month they also support area nonprofits. “It’s a way of giving back,” Wood says. For example, in February, a local Girl Scout troop sold its cookies at the market and the Crisis Center of Comal County collected much-needed items for its shelter facilities. Next month will showcase another group of organizations.
“We strive to build community and provide a place for everyone to enjoy and support local farms, food and artisan vendors and local businesses,” says Wood. If that’s something you’re interested in, too, then Garden Ridge Market Days is your place to be on Saturday.
About the Contributor
As soon as she learned to read and write, that’s all Emily Treadway wanted to do. She loves Texas history and, while she hates cooking, she loves eating, especially the diverse tastes and flavors of Texas cuisine.
