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Tacoma Summer Markets

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You all know it's farmers market season, and beyond knowing it, I hope you're getting out to see what's growing, smell the flowers, stock up on chicken eggs, choose some seafood for supper, take in the glow of local honey gleaming in glass jars, and get in on the baked goods, smoothies, wood-fired pizzas, and general delight created by people selling directly to people with dogs, strollers, weather, and live music all in the mix. But it's not only farmers market season; you can also find weekly artisan/thrift/vintage/flea markets, and monthly night markets in Tacoma! Take a look at our list, and don't let yourself believe you're too busy for this. Life is made more lively by enjoyment of community. Go bump into someone. 

Treasures from the Proctor Farmers' Market and La Paloma Proctor. Greenheart Smoothie, Spooner Farms strawberries, cards by Kelly Falk, Dancing Bee Apiary pollen, and vintage/thrift apparel finds.

Treasures from the Proctor Farmers' Market and La Paloma Proctor. Greenheart Smoothie, Spooner Farms strawberries, cards by Kelly Falk, Dancing Bee Apiary pollen, and vintage/thrift apparel finds.

Fresh, locally grown flowers from the Eastside Farmers Market. These went straight down the street from the market to the home of our clients. Best part of the job!

Fresh, locally grown flowers from the Eastside Farmers Market. These went straight down the street from the market to the home of our clients. Best part of the job!

The Tacoma Farmers Market operates in 4 locations, with the Proctor Farmers' Market doing its own thing every Saturday, so that makes 5 days of the week for going to market with your reusable bags and baskets to fill with food and flowers.

With 2 weekly and 1 monthly La Paloma Marketplace locations (formerly Tacoma Flea Market), the monthly Tacoma Night Market, and other pop-up markets you barely go a day without a venue for directly supporting local artists, makers, and resellers in our city. The La Paloma markets focus on vintage and handmade goods, and also have live music, food, and treats from vendors like Avocado & Co (caramel apples and tamales!), and Jan Parker Cookery (chicken bowls!). 

Our list is in day-of-the-week order and includes 2 bonus out-of-town markets at the end. Enjoy!

Sundays - Multiple Markets!

Every Sunday: Point Ruston Farmers Market 

10 am - 3 pm
June - September
5005 Ruston Way

Second Sundays: La Paloma Pearl Street Market 

10 am - 3 pm
June 10 - October
N 45th & Pearl (future location of Tacoma's Central Co-op)
Unlike the other La Paloma markets, this one has more opportunities for bartering and haggling!

Tuesdays

Every Tuesday: Eastside Farmers Market 

3 - 7 pm
June - August
35th & McKinley (just down the street from the Top of Tacoma!)

Eastside Farmers Market gorgeous produce display.

Eastside Farmers Market gorgeous produce display.

My Eastside Market choices: radishes, honey crisps, tomatoes, and apricots.

My Eastside Market choices: radishes, honey crisps, tomatoes, and apricots.

Goodness brought home from the Broadway Farmers Market from Adam's Mushrooms, L'Arche Farm & Gardens, and a local flower farm.

Goodness brought home from the Broadway Farmers Market from Adam's Mushrooms, L'Arche Farm & Gardens, and a local flower farm.

Thursdays - Multiple Markets!

Every Thursday: Broadway Farmers Market 

10 am - 3 pm, May - August
10 am - 2 pm, September - October
9th & Broadway

Every Thursday: La Paloma Waterfront Night Market 

5 - 9 pm
June 14 - October
Point Ruston - covered pavilion near Ice Cream Social (reason enough to show up)
 

Broadway Market Bouquets - Sometimes you need 3! These were just $10 for the larger and $5 for the smaller. Amazing!

Broadway Market Bouquets - Sometimes you need 3! These were just $10 for the larger and $5 for the smaller. Amazing!

Fridays

Coming Soon to Fridays: Tacoma General Rose Garden Farmers Market

11 am - 2 pm
August 3 - August 31
315 MLK Jr Way (between 5th & Division)

Proctor Farmers' Market on a sunny June day.

Proctor Farmers' Market on a sunny June day.

Saturdays - Multiple Markets!

Every Saturday: Proctor Farmers' Market

9 am - 2 pm
March 24 - December 15
N 27th & Proctor (west side of Proctor St)

Every Saturday:La Paloma Proctor

9 am - 2 pm
June - October
N 27th & Proctor (east side of Proctor St)

La Paloma Proctor vintage and reclaimed clothing for children, women, and men.

La Paloma Proctor vintage and reclaimed clothing for children, women, and men.

La Paloma Proctor's Woodland Teatime fanciful table of felted pieces and jewelry.

La Paloma Proctor's Woodland Teatime fanciful table of felted pieces and jewelry.

First Saturdays: Tacoma Night Market 

5 - 10 pm
Next Market is Saturday, July 7
734 Pacific Ave

Other Tacoma Markets to Follow

If you just LOVE markets so much, make sure you're following Downtown Tacoma Market so you won't miss their pop-up markets at Courthouse Square (home of Lift Bridge Coffee and en Rama). You'll also want to follow Happy Fox Studio Jewelry, host and organizer of wonderful local makers-markets that pop-up around our city. 

Two Out-of-Town Markets

Like to take a little day trip and go a bit further afield for your markets? We can recommend 2 personally.

Oxalis Kitchen's first day at the market with chef Darice Grass getting her menu board all set.

Oxalis Kitchen's first day at the market with chef Darice Grass getting her menu board all set.

1. Poulsbo Farmers Market 

9 am - 2 pm
Saturdays, April 7 - December 15
18901 8th Ave NE, Poulsbo
About 50 minutes by car from Tacoma

This is the market where our sister-in-law is the chef behind Oxalis Kitchen. This lady has food magic in all her fingertips. 

  • savory rye galettes: fresh, from- scratch, full-meal-in-the-palm-of-your-hand tarts with rye flour crust, green garlic mascarpone, mushrooms, onions, peppers, prosciutto, etc.

  • "the brownie": gluten free, rich, perfect, topped with hazelnuts, and caramel

  • from-scratch sparkling soda: think seasonal fruits like strawberry with rhubarb, reduced and strained into a bright, sweet-tart syrup added to refreshing soda water

  • creative salads "to-go": creations like dilly summer soba with cucumber and beets, or rainbow kale with peanut sauce and brown rice

  • dressings to brighten your meals at home: varieties like miso ginger, or apple, feta, shallot vinaigrette

Of course, she's not the only booth at the market - you'll find fresh produce, honey, crafts, a knife sharpener, pickles, flowers, bread and baked goods - but you have to visit her and eat. P.S. - Oxalis Kitchen sells out!

2. Puyallup Farmers Market 

9 am - 2 pm
Saturdays, April 21 - October 13
Pioneer Park & Pavilion, Puyallup
25 - 40 minutes by car from Tacoma

At this market our cousin The Vintage Baker also sells out of her delectable sweet treats of every shape, size, color, and flavor. Cookies, scones, layer cakes, mini pies, turnovers, sweet rolls.

If it's sweet, makes your mouth water, and has you considering dessert for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, she bakes it. You might find savory croissants as well if that's more your thing.

This is another market with all the works: produce, music, food vendors, and all that jazz. 

A hands-arms-and-bag-ful kind of day at the Proctor Farmers' Market. Thanks to a sweet stranger for snapping this photo!

A hands-arms-and-bag-ful kind of day at the Proctor Farmers' Market. Thanks to a sweet stranger for snapping this photo!

In Closing

The moral of the story is, don't lament the selection and experience of the super market, and don't feel like you'd better just head to some big-box store next time you want to give a gift. Fresh, local, outdoor, seasonal markets are the perfect salve for your woes. If you don't buy anything, you'll still see something, you'll feel something, you'll be awakened just a bit. See you out there!

If you'd like to keep in touch with us at dugganhomes about life in and around Tacoma (and some real estate too), follow us on Instagram and/or Facebook. You'll see things like this:

There’s change in the air across Tacoma, the return of things once lost, the reopening of places once closed, the transformation of one restaurant into another, the creation of brand new places to gather, shop, eat, and drink. We’ve been
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We took our two hearts out for an impromptu lunch at @threeheartstacoma today and we suggest you do the same. When we read the news that they’re extending their soft launch and staying open for the week instead of closing until next Tuesday we
Slipping a few coins in the parking meter’s a small price to pay for such a nice spot to sit. If you haven’t visited @outerdarkcoffee yet go before all the leaves fall. They’re very good company outside the huge windows. If you miss
As we celebrated their closing day yesterday our clients shared that after our first day of searching they weren’t sure if buying a home in Tacoma could actually happen for them. Less than two moths later we had the joy of handing them the keys
I’m marveling at all the colors that come from just one backyard maple tree (Michael’s heard enough). But, as Anne of Green Gables says, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers…Look at these maple branch
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Lost hair bow, late season magnolia blossom, or an installation piece? This curbside crocus has a lot to offer too. May you encounter the fanciful, odd, and extraordinary ordinary in your walks about town. -G #walkingview #sidewalkart
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Hi, I'm Michael Duggan, a licensed broker with Windermere Abode. I would love to help you through the home buying or selling process. Please contact me to set up a meeting and get things started.