Top Three Things to Know About the Uptown Farmers Market
Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 7:41AMArticle by Becky Fillinger, Photos by Debra Van De Weghe
A ribbon cutting marked the June opening
Thursday evenings 4-8pm thru September
In mid-June, the all new Uptown Farmers Market kicked-off a 16-week season that runs through September 25. Located at W Lake Street and Girard, just behind Seven Points (formerly Calhoun Square), the market is a grassroots, community-led effort that serves-up healthy portions of fresh eats, live beats and good vibes every Thursday evening from 4-8pm.
We spoke with market co-chair, Dan Sutton, and market manager, Julia Chamberland, to share what you should know about the market.
1. Fresh Eats
In its first year, this market already offers the fresh staples that we’ve all come to expect from a good market: produce, proteins, cottage foods, desserts, flowers, bath products and specialty crafts. (Yes, there is also the obligatory sourdough bread). Plus, want your knives sharpened for chopping the veggies when you get home? Look for Tera Forge’s booth. And prepared foods? Sure — there’s a delicious range of tastes, including street foods from Vietnam, India and Nepal, as well as food truck standards like El Jefe and ice cream from La La. With every passing week, the market’s range of offerings continues to grow.
Bean Market is one of dozens of local vendors selling fresh eats.
2. Live Beats
One of the things that has always distinguished Uptown and, not surprisingly, this market is the quality and range of music. Throughout the evening, you’ll find seriously talented buskers playing a mix of originals and covers that go far above and beyond ambiance alone. In mid July, the market also debuted a main stage along W. Lake Street, featuring local bands from 5:30-7:30p. Now we’re not saying the market will be competition for the Lake Harriet Bandshell but these acts are fixtures on the Minneapolis music scene. And you never know what you may get to experience — from a sophisticated jazz trio that regularly plays at Berlin to a seasoned barn dance caller who’s patter gets you up on your feet to dance!
Live beats served up by Brad Holden and Michael Gold.
3. Good Vibes
Uptown has always bent toward the eclectic and artsy as well. So, why wouldn’t the market lean into local artists like Mark Herman Studio and Doug Pedersen for it’s eye-catching marketing? Then there’s the cool swag — hats and tees to bags and aprons, courtesy of Wink. For launch, the market tapped yarn wizard #hotxtea to do one of his trademark fence installations. Be on the lookout for more planned installations and murals in the area immediately surrounding the market. While you’re at the market, let the kids entertain themselves at Twin Cities Skaters Studio — so you can unwind over a cool beverage of your choice on Roat Osha’s patio and do some people watching. (It is Uptown after all.)
The Uptown Farmers Market draws crowds from across the Twin Cities.
The Uptown Farmers Market offers all the right ingredients to slide right into your summer groove. Here are the logistics to plan your first trip. There’s plenty of parking in the lot behind Seven Points, (and a special $7 flat rate for the market). But bike, walk or take public transit if you can. It’s good for you. Although Uptown loves furry friends, only service dogs are welcome at the market.
