Last Updated on December 4, 2022 by admin
The Ballard Farmers Market is easily one of the best ways to spend a weekend 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. 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!
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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.
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 Park. We recommend checking out the food stalls 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 (linked here).
Our Visit 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. 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! |
What to Eat at the Ballard Farmers Market
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 to the Ballard Farmers Market
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.
(Click on any of the above images for pricing and shipping information.)
Where to Stay in Seattle
Traveling to Seattle? Here’s some recommendations for places to stay.
The Four Seasons Hotel Seattle is a gorgeous 5-Star hotel located centrally in downtown Seattle. If you can afford it, this is our first recommendation. The hotel has an outdoor infinity pool with a view of the Seattle waterfront, lots of amenities, and is within walking distance of a lot of Seattle attractions.
The Charter Hotel Seattle is a moderately-priced hotel that’s only one block away from Pike Place Market. It’s also only a mile away from the Seattle Center (where the Space Needle is located). The hotel is sleek and many of the rooms have nice city views.
The Seattle Marriott Waterfront has views of the water, as well as an indoor-outdoor pool. Every room has a view of the mountains and water.
For a full list of hotels in Seattle, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dogs allowed at the Ballard Farmers Market?
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!)
Where should you park to visit the Ballard Farmers Market?
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.
Is the Ballard Farmers Market open?
The Ballard Farmers Market is currently open and operates every Sunday from 9am to 2pm. The only day that it is closed is if Christmas Day falls on a Sunday.
What day is the Ballard Farmers Market?
The Ballard Farmers Market is open every Sunday rain or shine. The only exception is if Christmas Day falls on a Sunday.
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 as well!
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If you enjoyed this post, you may also be interested in the following posts:
- What to See (and Eat!) at Pike Place Market
- Our Review of the Edmonds Farmers Market
- Seattle’s 15 Best Beaches
- The 33 Best Day Trips from Seattle
- Full Guide to the Museum of Popular Culture
- 101 Things to Do in Seattle
- How to Spend a Rainy Day in Seattle
- Seattle’s Best Coffee Shops
- Activities at the Green Lake Neighborhood in Seattle
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.
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