Ramp Up for This Weekend's Markets Including a New Outdoor Opening

Market in Suburban Grayslake Joins Early Chicago Region Outdoor Lineup

Spring is a time for hope. And I hope the weather forecast for Saturday — when I'll again be visiting Chicago's Green City Market — is right.

Weather.com says mostly sunny with a high of 52. Still a bit below the average April 12 but about 10 degrees warmer than the late winter-ish conditions for Green City's season opener last Saturday.

This Saturday also brings the second April outdoor opening, Grayslake Farmers Market in the same-name community in northeastern Illinois' Lake County. As you'll see in the schedule below, there are two more over the final week of April, then May arrives and the outdoor season really gets rolling.

Since next week is two weeks out from the first week in May, and will start expanding this schedule feature with the early May markets (to whet your appetite, of course).

I'll be on the hunt Saturday for new seasonal crops to go with the ramps (see in the photo above) that I found last week. Make no mistake, though, there is plenty of delicious produce already at the markets, with storage crops (such as potatoes and apples) and over-wintered plants (such as greens and carrots).

Happy foraging... support our local farmers.

APRIL OUTDOOR MARKETS

Open This Saturday (April 12)

Green City Market Lincoln Park, 1817 N. Clark St., Chicago

Dates: Saturdays beginning April 5-November 22

Times: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April, then 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the rest of the season

Grayslake Farmers Market, 201 Center St., Grayslake

Dates: Saturdays April 12 - May 31 [market shifts to Wednesdays in June]

Times: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Coming Soon

The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 724 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago

Dates: Saturdays beginning April 26

Times: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Frankfort Country Market, Breidert Green and 1 N. White St., Frankfort

Dates: Sundays beginning April 27

Times: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

2025 CHICAGO REGION WINTER FARMERS MARKETS

(Alphabetical order)

61st Street Market (Chicago)

Location: Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago

Day of Week/Time: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dates of Operation: April 12 (final market before moving outdoors)

Batavia Indoor Market

Location: Grainology Brewstillery, 131 Flinn St., Suite C, Batavia

Day of Week/Time: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Dates of Operation: Every Saturday through May 10

Buffalo Grove Indoor Winter Farmers Market

Location: Vernon Township Community Center, 2900 N. Main St.

Day of Week/Time: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dates of Operation: April 12 and 26

Cary Winter Farmers Market (Crystal Lake)

Location: Algonquin Township Office, 3702 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake

Day of Week/Time: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dates of Operation: April 20, May 4

Farmers Market at the Dole (Crystal Lake)

Location: The Dole, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake

Day of Week/Time: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dates of Operation: April 13 and 27

Huntley Indoor Farmers Market

Location: Huntley Municipal Complex, 10987 Main St., Huntley

Day of Week/Time: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dates of Operation: April 12 (final market before moving outdoors)

Jefferson Park Sunday Market (Chicago)

Location: Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave.

Day of Week/Time: Selected Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dates of Operation: May 4

Palatine Farmers Market

Location: 137 W. Wood St., Palatine

Day of Week/Time: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Dates of Operation: April 19

Ravinia Winter Farmers Market (Highland Park)

Location: Wayfarer Theaters, 1850 W. 2nd St., Highland Park

Day of Week/Time: Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dates of Operation: Every Saturday through April 26

St. Charles Indoor Farmers Market

Location: Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles

Day of Week/Time: Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Dates of Operation: Every Friday through May

Skokie Winter Farmers Market

Location: 4051 Main St., Skokie

Day of Week/Time: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Dates of Operation: April 13 and 27

South Loop Farmers Market — Water Tower Place (Chicago)

Location: Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., 4th Floor

Day of Week/Time: Sundays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Dates of Operation: Every Sunday through May 18

Wheaton Indoor Market

Location: 117 W. Wesley, Wheaton

Day of Week/Time: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dates of Operation: Every Saturday through April

Woodstock Farmers Market

Location: All Seasons Orchard, 14510 IL-176

Day of Week/Time: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dates of Operation: April 12 and 26