Downtown Alachua Set For Weekly Farmers Market Revival

ALACHUA – Downtown Alachua is set to welcome back a feature that has been missing for years: a weekly farmers market. Beginning Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, the “Market on Main” will open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the grassy area at Skinner Park along Main Street.

The effort is being led by downtown business owner Mandy Bucci in partnership with the Alachua Business League. Organizers are optimistic that the new market will succeed where previous attempts struggled. In the past, the Chamber of Commerce hosted farmers markets – first near its building on Main Street and later at the same grassy lot – but vendor participation and customer turnout dwindled.

This time, the market is designed with the seasons in mind. Fall and winter hours will run Saturday mornings through March, while in April the market will transition to “Summer Nights” on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m., running through September. In addition to fresh produce, honey, eggs, flowers, baked goods, and handmade items, the market will feature food trucks, live performances, and children’s activities. On launch day, free market tote bags will be given to the first 100 customers.

Momentum for a market in Alachua comes at a time when the long-standing Alachua County Farmers Market in Gainesville faces an uncertain future. That market, located off U.S. Highway 441, has operated for more than 40 years but may soon close or relocate as the County reclaims the site for other purposes. Supporters of the new “Market on Main” hope this shift will encourage Gainesville-area patrons and vendors to discover the convenience and charm of downtown Alachua.

The Skinner Park location is considered a temporary home for the market. City leaders are working on plans for a new bollard system that would allow Main Street, between Northwest 150^th Avenue and Northwest 148^th Place, to be closed off for events. Once completed, the system would give the farmers market — and other downtown activities — a central spot on Main Street, drawing people directly into the heart of the city.

With community support, organizers believe the market can become more than just a place to shop for fresh goods. They hope it will grow into a weekly gathering spot where families, friends, and visitors experience the best of Alachua’s downtown.

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