Weather or Not, Chicago's Outdoor Market Season Opens Saturday

Join Us at Green City Market in Lincoln Park

[Correction: Green City Market's Saturday markets will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April. The 7-1 hours will begin on May 3 and continue through the remainder of the outdoor season.]

There are many ways to declare the official start of spring. The vernal equinox, of course. Baseball opening day. The first flowers, bursting tree buds, rabbits, and geese flying north.

And, of course, the kickoff to the Chicago region's nearly nine-month-long outdoor farmers market season, which takes place on Saturday (April 5) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Green City Market's flagship Lincoln Park location, 1817 N. Clark St.

This is the fourth year in which Green City has rolled the dice on Chicago weather by opening on the first Saturday in April. They may have had a comfortably warm opening day or two, but this doesn't appear to be one of those years (that's the forecast from weather.com in the graphic above).

Nonetheless, this forecast is about what you'd expect for April 5 and it looks dry. So let's put on a coat, get out there and celebrate our local food community.

There are still several indoor markets open and they'll overlap with the start of the outdoor season. In fact, we just got word that the Sunday South Loop Farmers Market in downtown Chicago's Water Tower Place mall — which has been a big hit since its opening in January — is blowing past its previously scheduled March 30 closing date and will remain open through May 18.

The following schedule shows the four regional outdoor market openings in April, followed by the remaining indoor markets.

Please buy local and support our region's small farms.

APRIL OUTDOOR MARKET OPENINGS

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.

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 — scroll down to view April outdoor markets)

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: 2nd Saturday of the month January - April

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: 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month through April

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: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month through May 11

Community Indoor Farmers Market (Evanston)

Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 616 Lake St., Evanston

Day of Week/Time: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Dates of Operation: Every other Saturday January 4-March 15 and April 5

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: Every other Sunday January 12-March 23; 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: 2nd Saturday of each month through April

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: February 2, April 6, 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: 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month through April

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 from January 11 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: Every other Sunday January 12-March 23, plus 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 Saturday, January 12-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: Every other Saturday from January 4 through March 29, and April 12 and 26

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REMINDER: Local Food Forum celebrated its 4th anniversary on April 1. To mark the occasion, we're conducting a joint subscription drive/fundraiser, with 20 percent of all proceeds going to Farmers Rising, the farmer education non-profit based in Caledonia, Illinois.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL FOOD FORUM

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN