Saturday Farmer's Market Expanded

The Aspen City Council unanimously approved a plan to expand the Saturday farmer's market to a third block.

The market will take over the 500 block of East Hyman Avenue when it kicks off in June. The market had previously occupied the 500 block of East Hopkins Avenue and the 200 block of South Hunter Street. Now with the Hyman addition, the market will form a  "U" shape instead of an "L." The market currently has about 65 booths. Closing off the street to car traffic and adding the extra block should add about 20 booths to the market and allow for more space in between booths.  There is currently a waiting list of vendors who want to participate in the market.

With the expansion of the market, the Aspen Commercial Core and Lodging Commission, which oversees the market, is adding additional booths that will be used each week by a different ACRA business or a nonprofit. There will now be two booths for local businesses and two booths for nonprofits.

The market requires that Hopkins Avenue between Galena and Hunter streets be closed to foot traffic, as well as one block of Hunter Street and now Hyman Avenue between Hunter and Galena streets.  The move will be considered a trial run to make sure extending the market onto the 500 block of East Hyman Avenue doesn't harm businesses along that stretch.

The market runs Saturdays from mid-June to mid-October.