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Red, white, blue and green: Farmers Market returns this week

Posted on May 18th, 2026 By: Marsha Hart

Expect a lot of red, white and blue, and a few new faces at the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Farmers Market.

The first market of 2026 is from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at Skansie Brothers Park. The market continues every Thursday through Aug. 27.

Along with a red, white and blue theme for the country’s 250th anniversary, opening day will feature music by Lakin, a singer-songwriter, playing acoustic numbers as well as some kid-friendly tunes.

Produce for sale at the Gig Harbor Waterfront Farmers Market on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. Photo by Vince Dice

82 vendors will rotate

Shoppers will see an average of 45 to 47 vendor booths each week, filled with Washington-grown fresh produce, flowers, honey, and other goods.

The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance, in its 12th year organizing the market, approved 82 vendors this season. Twenty-two of those are farms.

They will rotate each week, including booths that showcase artisan crafters, bakers and sauce makers, said Clare Dunis, executive director of the Waterfront Alliance.

Market vendors will accept SNAP, EBT and SUN Bucks, a program designed to ensure kids have meals during the summer break from school. The SNAP Market Match program matches dollars banked in EBT up to $50, Dunis said. Match dollars are solely used for fresh produce items, including fresh fruits and vegetables and plant starts that produce food.

A scene from the final day of the Waterfront Farmers Market on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. Photo by Vince Dice

Baked goods

One crowd favorite, Balloon Roof Baking Company, won’t return this year. Balloon Roof is opening a new brick-and-mortar store in Tacoma and decided to concentrate on that this season, Dunis said.

“It pains us a little,” Dunis said. “They have been very popular, so it is sad to not see them at our market this season, but we are incredibly proud to see them join the ranks of success stories like Fox Island Trading Co., graduating from our market incubator into a flourishing brick-and-mortar space.”

Bella Bella Bakery will fill that spot with an offering of savory sourdough, as well as their famous sweets. Dunis said other vendors will offer plenty of baked good favorites.

Puppers are a part of the Gig Harbor community, and Rough Sea Treats returns this year for the four-legged shoppers.

New farms

Windrunner Gardens, as well as Rolling Bounty Farm, both from Port Orchard, are new to the market this year. They will bring mixed vegetables, fruits, small-volume flowers and eggs.

Returning favorites include honey from Shipwreck Apiaries, eggs from La Badie Farms, and local blooms from Vang Garden and Gig Harbor’s own Moon Mountain Farm. Kathleen Rose of WillaBella Farm on Point Fosdick Drive will be back this year providing not just fresh fruits and vegetables, but some agriculture information and activities for younger shoppers.

“The energy and variety at the waterfront this year is going to be unmatched,” Dunis said. “We’re excited to continue bringing local farms to the market.”

With the America 250 focus this year, shoppers will have the opportunity to purchase a commemorative Waterfront Farmers Market tote bag in honor of America’s 250thanniversary from the Alliance Info Booth. Bags cost $2.

July 2 will be a special market day, with an America 250 party atmosphere. Shoppers are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue that day, Dunis said.

“I love the visual image of the market being a modern- day town square,” Dunis said. “I get excited to infuse more of that into the market.”

Waterfront shuttle

The ADA-accessible Waterfront Shuttle returns this year, running during market hours each Thursday through Aug. 27. Shoppers can park at Gig Harbor United Methodist Church on Pioneer Way or at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Rosedale Street and ride to the park.

Click here for more information on SNAP Market Match.