The weather continued to cooperate, with fair skies and cool temperatures greeting visitors to the Riverbank Farmers Market this past Friday. And participation in the market increased at its second week of the season. More vendors and more farmers joining in brought additional selections for market patrons over the opening week festivities hosted the Friday before.
The Kettle Korn booth brought its sweet, tasty confection back to the market. It has been a staple at the market for the past several years. The food booth presented by Central Valley Community Resources also returned, bringing back its hot food menu that includes both tacos and hot dogs for hungry market visitors.
Ramos Farms of Modesto joined the line-up of market booths offering fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables for sale, doubling the number of offerings at the market over the previous week.
And Brad Brown returned again, with his guitar accompanied vocals, featuring pop, rock, folk and blues tunes from his repertoire. He performed several times at last year’s markets, and is scheduled to return one more time this year. Free music performances have been a hallmark of the Farmers Market since its inception in 2003.
Other free features include a bounce house for kids, a movie after dark, and recreation activities, provided by the city Recreation Department.
Last week’s cool temperatures led to a cancellation of the movie showing, and the Graffiti Summer Car Parade in downtown Modesto prevented the classic car group from being at the market.
A special feature scheduled at this week’s market, June 16, will be Senior Nutrition Coupons usable at the Farmers Market. It’ll be $20 worth of coupons to be used at the market.
The coupons will be available at the Teen Center, next door to the Community Center on Santa Fe Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets. Hours are 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., or until supplies are exhausted. It’s done on a first come, first served basis.
Those eligible for the coupons must be 60 years or older and have an income of $1800 for one or $2470 for a family of two. For more information on the coupon program, patrons can call 209-558-8698 or toll free at 800-510-202.
This Friday, free music from the band Totally Frank will be heard from the stage, the Car Show will return, along with the free bounce house and a free showing of the movie Zootopia, a 2016 Disney studios animation originally shown in 2D, 3D and 3D IMAX in theatres.
The Riverbank Farmers Market has moved this year to Fridays but continues to be held at Community Center Park between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with the movie shown after it gets dark enough. There will be no movie at the market on Friday, June 23, since the city is presenting a free Movie in the Park on the next day, Saturday, June 24, at Jacob Myers Park.
There is no market scheduled for June 30, the Friday of the July 4th holiday weekend.
The Kids Safety/Bike Rodeo event and a Spanish Salsa Night along with a cooking demonstration are scheduled for markets in July.
