Kids Day at MCC Farmers' Market

Every Wednesday afternoon this summer at the Manchester Bicentennial Band Shell, Manchester Community College will with fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, crafts, jewelry, among other items.

Wednesday, July 27, is no different, as there will be another showcase of Connecticut products at MCC. However, one noticeable distinction on July 27 is that several more kids will be roaming around the community marketplace.

That is when Kids Day at the farmer's market will be taking place between 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. There will be free pony rides for the children, and Patrick Sullivan, the MCC Farmer's Market co-manager, said he is trying to line up additional activities, including a face painter and a storyteller.

Sullivan, who is also a Professor of English at MCC, said the pony rides will be happening between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Luisa and John Mayock from Fiddlehead Farm in Granby have been providing pony rides for the market for the last three years, and Sullivan said these rides are always a big hit with the kids.

“The ponies are wonderful and all the children really seem to enjoy it,” Sullivan said. “They are very calm ponies, and the rides are the center of everything on Kids Day.”

There is live music at the weekly Farmers’ Market, and Sullivan said this background music will be happening on July 27. The market changes the live music each week, and Kids Day will have The Guinea Pigs, a Connecticut based acoustic ensemble.

Sullivan hopes that a lot of families come out to Kids Day, which in turn helps the volume of the farmer's market.

“We are hoping to get a lot of people who haven’t been here before,” he said. “The idea is to get a bunch of parents and kids out to this community event, and they can have the experience of meeting farmers and learning about local farmers. We’re all about supporting local businesses and agriculture.”

Sullivan also said that this upcoming Kids Day is the first one of the market's season, which runs from June to October. Sullivan said July 27 will be a perfect day for children to have fun on a summer afternoon.

“A lot of kids will be there, so they can be with their friends,” he said. “There will be music and food, and it’s in a nice shady spot under the trees. Kids are going to absolutely love it.”

As for the regular Farmers’ Market each week, every product sold must be produced within Connecticut. The community event always has fresh fruits and vegetables, crafts, homemade soaps, goat cheese, massages, jewelry, baked goods (with gluten free options), herbs, dried florals and freshly prepared meals on site.

“It’s a really good time to buy local products,” Sullivan said. “Some of the local farmers are struggling, and it’s good to help them out at this community celebration.”

Bettylou Sandy, who is the MCC Community Garden coordinator as well as an adjunct faculty member at MCC, said the farmer's market is fantastic, and everyone should come down to the band shell and check it out.

“The market is like an oasis from the business of our daily lives,” Sandy, who also runs Bettylou’s Gardening in town, said. “Meeting the people who grow our food and supporting our local farmers and bakers is a wonderful experience that is good for everyone.

Sullivan noted that it’s quite enjoyable to sit at the market's outdoor café and have a freshly prepared meal while listening to the live music. Some of these fresh lunches include grilled pizza, grilled vegetables or veggie sliders.

“A lot of the food at the market is picked that morning,” Sullivan said. “Last year, I had some potatoes that were harvested that day, and they tasted amazing. Also, everything there is so healthy for you.”

In addition, the market includes local artists and artisans. Customers can purchase handcrafted work, as well as artwork created by people in the surrounding communities. This includes everything from painting, photography, soaps, skin creams, beeswax candles, among other items.

The market is always open on Wednesdays in the summer, rain or shine. Parking is available next to the market near the band shell.

For more information, log on to http://www.mcc.commnet.edu/business/farmers/.