Milwaukee County's opens at the Domes on Saturday; Oconomowoc's opens Sunday in a new location.
It's that time of year: Farmers markets are moving inside.
After some drama about its location early this year, the Milwaukee County Winter Farmers Market is ready to reopen Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd.
The market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Domes' Greenhouse Annex through March 30, except for Nov. 24 and Dec. 29, when the market will be closed.
A new lease with the county led to a slight adjustment in hours, and customer demand is the reason behind some other changes this season.
"We've added more vegan and vegetarian options, as well as making sure breakfast and lunch options are available consistently each week," Katie Hassemer, director of farmers markets for Fondy Food Center, said in the statement announcing the market's opening. Fondy manages the winter market.
For instance, vegan bakery East Side Ovens will be a vendor this season, and Press, the maker of Liège-style Belgian waffles, will be at the market weekly.
Hassemer said the winter market will have more vendors from the Fondy Farmers Market, including Alice's Garden, and some weeks it will again have rice that's grown at the Fondy Farm in Mequon.
Back in March, the Milwaukee County Parks Department told Fondy Food Center it would have to move its market elsewhere. The market has more than 50 farmers and other vendors and nearly 1,800 shoppers a week.
The County Board in May urged the Parks Department to negotiate a new lease with Fondy, and a lease agreement was reached in July.
The winter market, which is opening its 10th season, has spent more than half of them at the Domes; it started at State Fair Park.
The Oconomowoc Winter Farmers Market resumes Sunday, Nov. 4. It's open 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through March 31 and has a new location this year: Oconomowoc High School, 641 E. Forest Drive.
The Great Lakes Farmers Market is held year-round from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays at the Milaeger's garden center in Racine, 4838 Douglas Ave.
The Port Washington Winter Market is open on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Inventor's Brewpub at the American Legion Hall, 435 N. Lake St.
A couple of outdoor markets are still in action: the West Allis Farmers Market, 6501 W. National Ave., continues through Nov. 24, and the Fondy Farmers Market, 2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave., winds up its season Nov. 17.