Saturday, April 12, marked the return of the Overland Park Farmers’ Market. In its 32^nd year, the OP Farmers’ Market features nearly 70 vendors selling local farm-fresh produce, garden plants, meat, dairy, baked goods and other specialty food items. 

The 2014 OP Farmers’ Market will be open every Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Nov. 23, and Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning May 21. The Market is located under the pavilion on Marty Street, between 79th and 80th streets, in Downtown Overland Park.

In addition to providing a wide variety of healthy, local food options, the OP Farmers’ Market will also offer a number of entertaining and educational events on the clock tower patio throughout the season. Musical acts will range in styles from calypso to country and jazz to rock; Wednesdays will regularly feature children’s music. Clock tower concerts start at 10:30 a.m. and end at noon, unless otherwise noted.

The very popular Farmers’ Kitchen is also back again this season and will feature a number of local chefs demonstrating how to prepare in-season produce purchased at the Farmers’ Market. Regional chefs will host a demonstration on the first Saturday of every month with a lively presentation focused on foods that customers actually purchased that day. Cooking demos begin at 10 a.m. and end at noon.

Other events include presentations from the Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners on gardening techniques and a number of specially themed health education presentations given by Shawnee Mission Health, the presenting sponsor of Downtown Overland Park events. Eco Elvis, a popular local Elvis impersonator and environmental educator, will perform twice.

A complete OP Farmers’ Market event schedule can be found here, and more information can be found online at opkansas.org and will be updated on the DowntownOP.org event calendar.