Our Guide to the Ballard Farmers Market (From a Local!)
Last Updated on April 13, 2024 by Kelly
The Ballard Farmers Market is one of our favorite ways to spend a Seattle in Seattle. The market covers two city blocks and contains dozens of vendors. We’ve been to the Ballard Farmers Market several times, and we’ve looked forward to each visit. The market is full of handmade products, local produce, and food stalls.
During our last visit to the market, we saw vendors selling candles, soaps, artwork, jewelry, and wooden bowls. We also saw food booths selling honey, cured meats, mini donuts, hand-dipped corn dogs, pizza, fresh produce, tamales, crepes, steamed buns, ramen, tacos, and more.
We like to time our visit to the market with lunch. There are so many food trucks!
If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity in Seattle, we highly recommend a visit to the Ballard Farmers Market. (Arrive hungry!) In this post, we’ll share our complete guide to visiting the Ballard Farmers Market. We also share lots of photos of the Ballard Farmers Market so you can see some of our favorite reasons to visit!
About the Ballard Farmers Market
The Ballard Farmers Market operates every Sunday from 9am to 2pm, rain or shine! The only day the market is closed is if Christmas Day falls on a Sunday.
You can find the Ballard Farmers Market on Ballard Avenue NW between Vernon Place and 22nd Avenue Ballard Ave NW.
Leashed dogs are permitted at the Ballard Farmers Market. We’ve seen plenty of pooches while we’ve been to the market. During our last visit, Puddles Barkery was there selling homemade dog treats. (They even sell dog-friendly cannolis!)
The Ballard Farmers Market has been in operation since 2000. All of the vendors sell products exclusively made in Washington State. The market is the place to shop local!
The market is located adjacent to Bergen Place Park. We recommend checking out the food stalls at the market and then heading to the park to eat your meal.
You can get the latest updates from the Seattle Farmers Market Association by subscribing to their newsletter.
Our Visits to the Ballard Farmers Market
We’ve divided this section into food vendors and handmade products. Please note that this list was constructed from our most recent visits to the Ballard Farmers Market and is subject to change. We’re just hoping to provide you with some inspiration to visit the market. The vendors often change week-to-week. Be sure to check the vendor list prior to your visit to the market if there is something specific you are hoping to buy!
| Be sure to check out our posts on Pike Place Market, the Edmonds Farmers Market, and Granville Island Public Market as well! |
Food Recommendations
Hand-Dipped Corn Dog from Valley Dogs
One of our first stops at the market was at Valley Dogs. They hand-dip their corn dogs and each is made-to-order. We watched as they dipped the hot dog in batter and cooked it in front of us. It was definitely one of the best corn dogs we’ve ever tasted. Our toddler was also a big fan!
Nutella & Banana Crepe from La Crespella
La Crespella focuses on an Italian twist to the classic French crepe. I ordered the Nutella & Banana Crepe (which is my personal favorite type of crepe!), but there are tons of options to choose from. Other options for sweet crepes included Market-Made Jam, Ricotta & Honey, and Lemon & Sugar. They were also selling savory crepes such as the Crepe Madame, Eggs Benedict, and Spinach & Ricotta.
Tamales from Patty Pan Grill
You can’t miss all of the fresh veggies on the grill at the Patty Pan Grill booth. They sell fresh quesadillas and tamales. I ordered one of their tamales with plenty of salsa, and it was delicious!
Kolach from Little Prague Bakery
Don’t walk past Little Prague Bakery without ordering a kolach, which is a Czech sweet pastry that contains a fruit filling. We ordered the apple kolach and it was one of the best desserts we’ve ever tasted! The dough was puffy and sweet, and the filling was perfectly distributed. We also ordered another Nutella pastry. (Can you tell I love Nutella?) Both were a hit!
Tacos from Los Chilangos
Craving Mexican food? Check out the taqueria Los Chilangos. We ordered three different types of tacos (al pastor, chorizo, and asada). Each of the three flavors was delicious. We also ordered their chilaquiles, which is one of my favorite Mexican dishes. Chilaquiles consists of corn tortilla pieces that are fried and cooked in salsa. They were served with a side of beans and two eggs. Yum!
Bao from Cute Dumplings
We also tried several different types of bao buns from Cute Dumplings. We ordered the BBQ Pork Bao, the Teriyaki Chicken Bao, and the Pork and Cabbage Bao. We liked them all, but we would especially recommend the BBQ Pork Bao and the Pork and Cabbage Bao. (Our toddler also was a big fan of these!)
Blueberry Pie from Pegasus Pie Company
We also stopped by Pegasus Pie Company for a pie to take home. We have dinner with my parents every Sunday, and it was the perfect dessert to bring!
Cinnamon Roll from Mount Bakery Cafe
You’ll find all sorts of yummy pastries and breads at the Mount Bakery Cafe. Their cinnamon rolls are ‘nearly famous’ and made with croissant dough!
Croissants from The French Guys
The French Guys is a mobile classic French bakery. They use fresh and local ingredients in their products. Their display box is often filled with baguettes, brioche, quiche, and croissants. (Not to mention sweet pastries!)
Bread from All You Need is Loaf
Also be sure to stop by All You Need is Loaf to pick up some bread for the week. Currently on their website they have breads listed such as organic French baguettes, double olives loaves, and organic whole wheat leaves.
Tea from Harbor Herbalist Tea
The Harbor Herbalist Tea hand blends small batches of loose leaf teas. They have an excellent selection of caffeinated and de-caffeinated teas. (And I love their display!)
Handmade Products
Soap from Sage on the Mountain
My friend Sarah runs Sage on the Mountain, and I can personally attest to her soaps! She’s been making soaps since 2010 and has perfected the process. She seeks out the most unrefined oils and she sources local ingredients whenever possible. I’ve personally purchased her soaps, bath salts, and salt scrubs. My favorite soap is the Whimsical Bar (juniper berry, lavender, eucalyptus, and rose geranium scents). My husband’s favorite is the Woodsy Bar (cedar wood, clary sage, and fir needle scents). If you can’t make it to the market, you can order from her Etsy shop!
Candles from Plantaby
Plantaby makes “hand-painted homes for plant babies.” The colorful ceramic pots are painted with acrylic paints. There were lots of beautiful candles available as well!
What to Bring
We recommend that you bring a few things with you to the market.
- Tote: Bring a re-usable tote for you to carry all of your purchases. If you forgot to bring one, we saw totes that you can purchase at the market. (They’re a bit expensive, but proceeds benefit the market.)
- Comfortable Shoes: Wear your favorite comfortable shoes as you stroll through the market. Brooks brand has been my personal favorite!
- Water Bottle: Bring a water bottle so you have a drink handy, especially if you want to eat at the market.
- Power Bank: We always keep a fully-charged power bank with us while we’re out exploring. That way, if our phone battery is running low, we can easily plug it in.
- Cash: There’s often lots of live music at the market. We like to bring cash to tip the musicians. Most of the vendors accept credit cards, but having cash on hand is nice for tips.
Parking
When looking for parking at the Ballard Farmers Market, you can park on any of the surrounding streets as long as it’s a designated parking space. Meters are free in Seattle on Sundays.
Many people look for street parking on Shilshole Avenue or NW Market Street. There are also several paid parking lots near the Ballard Farmers Market. It’s a bit difficult to find a parking space, so be patient. It usually takes us 10 or 15 minutes to find a parking spot. It gets busy!
Summary
We’ve really enjoyed our visits to the Ballard Farmers Market. We hope that by us sharing our experiences, you’re inspired to visit the Ballard Farmers Market as well!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please see individual websites embedded in this post for the most current trip-planning information. Vendors at the Ballard Farmers Market often change. This post reflects our experiences from previous visits to the Ballard Farmers Market. There may be new or different vendors on the date of your visit.
