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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — It’s getting warmer and summer activities are well underway, and that includes farmers markets. Starting next week, the one in Champaign will be in a new, but familiar spot.
They’re not going too far. In fact, vendors will be back in their original downtown Champaign location. Last year, they moved to the northern part of the parking lot by the Orpheum Theatre because of construction. Now that that’s wrapping up, they can call the new Plaza in front of Big Grove Tavern home.
Phase one of the Plaza construction is finished with new seating, pavement and a stage for concerts. Organizers from the Champaign Farmers Market said they’ve been partnering with the city to bring more this year.
That includes having live music and sip and shop events where people can grab a drink from Collective Pour or Big Grove Tavern and look around.
“It’s a really easy market to just walk around, shop and then the awesome thing is you can just come into the plaza with all this awesome seating and the stage area and it just encourages people to kind of hang out more and just be more of a downtown, Tuesday afternoon, evening hang out,” said Blake Hackler, Food Access Manager of the farmers market.
He said they’ll have nearly 20 vendors and some of them are new, such as a baked goods set up called “Everyday Feast.” Hackler also said they’re hoping to bring in activities like arts and crafts and a candle making class as well.
The farmers market will be moving officially on June 10. They’ll be there every Tuesday from 3-6 p.m.