Carnegie Farmers Market ready for another season

One of the bigger farmer’s markets in the southwestern Allegheny County area returns this summer.

The Carnegie Farmer’s Market kicks off July 6 and runs every Sunday until Sept. 21, with the exception of Labor Day Weekend, said coordinator Sam Bigham.

In July and August, hours will be from noon to 3 p.m. In September, hours run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The market is located on East Main Street, from Mary Street to Broadway Street, Bigham said. That section of road is closed for the market.

“The Carnegie Farmers Market is one of the larger markets in the area, as it is held on two blocks of Main Street with around 40 vendors each day,” Bigham said. “We also have food trucks and food tents so folks coming down can buy something to eat as well.”

There are more than 50 vendors this year selling a variety of produce, bread, spices, cooking, accessories and various artisan crafts like jewelry and drawings, Bingham said.

A special market will take place on Aug. 24, to coincide with Carnegie’s Butterfly Festival. That’s part of the Mayor’s Monarch Butterfly Pledge to preserve the habitat of the Monarch butterfly.

There, the Carnegie Shade Tree Commission hands out free nectars to people on a first-come, first-served basis to promote the proliferation of the Monarch butterfly.

Carnegie Crawls

Going on strong for 13 years, the Carnegie Crawl series is back this summer.

The Crawl takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. the second Friday of each month from May to October, on Carnegie’s Main Street.

“Our businesses stay open later and offer special deals every Crawl,” Bigham said. “We also close part of the streets to make room for live bands, outdoor games, food trucks, outdoor breweries and some vendors.”