Farmer's Markets

Farmer's Markets ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Driftless Region is top-notch for organic and farm-to-table options. You can find amazing dairy (obviously), veggies & fruits, alcohol, and, amazingly, coffee! In a 30-mile radius, you can find a farmer's market almost any day of the week. I'm here to tell you which ones are worth it and which ones not so much.


👍 Cameron Street
King Street between 4th & 5th
May - October, Fridays 4 pm - 8 
Winter, varying times Saturday mornings

This market has it all: live music, food vendors, local farmers, local arts / artists, face painting for the kiddos, ice cream.. there was even a vendor handing out freshly brewed local coffee ❤ (which I highly recommend! Along with a stop at the gyro truck.)

Be prepared to walk slower than snail speed. This is a very family-friendly affair and many people go just to check it out or socialize. Nothing beats downtown La Crosse on a beautiful summer night, but if you're going on a solo mission, I would definitely recommend a market on a different day.

Google Maps

👍 La Crescent
420 S. 2nd Street La Crescent, MN
Tuesdays 4 pm - 7 pm
Winter, Saturdays 9 am - noon (335 S. 1st)

This farmer's market is very small, but worth the drive if you're within close range. They typically have some live music going, only a one or two person gig, but really adds to the atmosphere. Everyone here is so nice and there's quite a variety of products weekly. This past week when I went there were farm-fresh eggs, a flower stand, a soap shop, The Great Harvest Bread Company with freshly baked bread (cannot stress my love of carbs enough), a decent range of vegetables, random homemade goods, and live music. Granted, with the changing seasons in Wisconsin, we are pretty limited to which vegetables we can get in the summer, but we are also lucky enough to have a diverse range of farms in the area so the quality from market to market can really vary: this market never fails on quality!
Google Maps

Viroqua
Viroqua Public Market, 215 S Main St. Viroqua, WI
May - October, Saturdays 8 am - noon

If you're searching for organic and delicious, Viroqua is your stop for almost everything! With Organic Valley right around the corner, the largest food co-op in the area, Kickapoo Roasters located right in town, and Driftless Brewing Company a short drive away, you're bound to find something in the public market that you'll love (open year-round Wednesday - Saturday 10 am - 9 pm and Sunday 9 am - 2 pm)! 

Viroqua Public Market

Sparta
Wednesdays 3 pm - sellout & Saturdays 7 am - sellout

This market is actually in its own designated area of the quaint downtown of Sparta. It operates in the winter time for special occasions, but is mainly a summer operation. You can get there either from the library parking lot (over a little wooden walking bridge) or from out front on Main Street. This is a very small market with six to nine vendors typically and a small area for live music. The market area is mostly covered, so this is a rain or shine event! Like I said, this is a small market, but has a surprising variety for being so small. Worth checking out if you're in the area, but I wouldn't make the drive from La Crosse for this one stop.

Holmen
Festival Foods, Hale Drive Holmen, WI
Wednesdays 3 pm - 7 pm

If you're going to Festival Foods anyway, swinging through this market first is definitely worth the savings on the vegetables. However, this is not one worth going out of your way for. Holmen is still (kind of) an up and coming suburb of La Crosse, so I think it just doesn't have the market for a big farmer's market yet. Give this one a couple of years with the developments in the area and I see this one growing a lot, but for now it's pretty small.

Holmen Market

Some of these I've heard get better throughout the summer and closer to fall. Also, with all the new building downtown, I think one or two of these markets are out of commission. Make sure to watch for updates!
Markets left to hit this summer:
Bridgeview Plaza
Wednesdays, 8 am - sellout

Google Maps

Village Shopping Center
2418 State Road
April - October, Friday 4 pm - 7 pm

Google Maps

Belle Square
County parking lot 3d & 4th Streets, Vine & State Streets
Saturday 6 am - sellout

Google Maps

Onalaska Farmer's Market
Sundays, 8 am - 1 pm

Onalaska Market

Rushford
Rushford Historic Train Depot, 401 S. Elm St. Rushford, MN
June - October, Wednesdays 4 pm - 6:30 pm

Rushford Market

Houston County