SANDPOINT — Sunshine, blue skies, fresh produce and unique crafts stretched the length of Oak Street in front of Farmin Park.

And perhaps the only thing matching the smiles of the shoppers celebrating the return of the Farmers Market at Sandpoint for the 2026 season were those on the vendors filling the park and both sides of a closed-off Oak Street.

“We had a really good turnout, beautiful weather,” market manager Olivia Gonzales said, breaking into a smile as she looked around as music filled the park. “Yeah, it feels really good to be back.”

Gonzales joined the market as its manager last year after seeing a job posting on the bulletin board at Winter Ridge Market. She loves the flexibility it offers, allowing her to manage day-to-day operations from home or bring one of her kids with her to the market.

“I think my favorite part of the market is the way it nurtures and creates strong community connections,” she added. “I love just seeing people out there in person and interacting and supporting each other.”

Market board member Anuschka Bales paused between customers looking for “plant babies” of everything from a wide variety of peppers to heirloom tomato varieties to agree.

“It’s been absolutely incredible,” she said. “We couldn’t have asked for anything better for the weather; it’s been absolutely perfect. Everybody’s been enthusiastic. Everyone wanted to get out and come to the first market of the year.”

The market — a fixture in Farmin Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays from early May through mid-October — has been connecting the community’s farmers, food vendors, artists and craftspeople with the community for more than 37 years. The brainchild of Lois Wythe, the owner of Peaceable Kingdom before she passed away in 2011, the market began in 1988 with a few simple questions by Wythe: “Would you like to put your garden to work? Are you interested in having high-quality, locally grown vegetables available to buy?”

Wythe arranged a meeting at the local county extension office, hoping that at least a few people would turn out, according to the market’s website. Instead, more than 60 people packed the office and, within weeks, more than 10 vendors brought flowers, plants and produce from their gardens to Farmin Park.

Bales, a self-described foodie, joined the market as a vendor several years ago after her desire for quality produce to serve her family led her to launch her own micro-farm.

“The farmers market is my opportunity to come off the farm,” said Bales, who serves as the market board’s treasurer. “I get to talk to my community about what I value and what’s important to me and why I grow the way I do. And if I can share good food with not only my family but my community, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Her favorite part of the market is the “plant babies” she grows to sell, giving community members a chance to grow their own food.

“I love having a greenhouse just full of little babies coming to life, and then being able to bring them here,” she said of the young starts filling several stands and shelves. “I see other people that are going to be taking them home and growing their own great food from it. That’s what makes me the most happy.”

Gonzales and Bales said what makes the market unique compared to some is that all vendors are selling their own wares, or are family members of the craftsperson or farmer on the other side of the stand.

Adding to the special atmosphere is the music and family nature of the market, Gonzales said. Music is family-friendly — the classic children’s song “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” had families up and dancing in front of the pergola stage as shoppers picked up everything from tomato and pepper plants to a bite to eat or checked out a book from the East Bonner County Library District’s bookmobile.

“There’s something special about it,” Gonzales said of the Farmers Market at Sandpoint. “The world changes, and there aren’t as many spaces where we can gather and support each other.”

While the number of vendors is growing, Gonzales said the board is selective about who is allowed to sell at the market, which at the height of the season fills Farmin Park, Oak Street and stretches into Jeff Jones Town Square.

Not only must items be locally made, but the level of craftsmanship and produce needs to be of good quality, market officials said.

“The market board is really proud of the fact that every booth is vendor-made and grown, so that whoever is selling the product is also the business owner,” Gonzales said. “You can’t be a big corporation or send an employee or anything like that.”

Board members spend the winter reviewing applications and vetting vendors to ensure those shopping at the market get the best experience and find items as unique as the market itself.

After a winter of readying for the market, both Bales and Gonzales said opening day brings a special excitement. This year, roughly 40 of the market’s 70-plus vendors turned out for the market’s 2026 season opener, Gonzales said.

Many of the vendors unable to attend opening day are among the many small and micro-farmers who sign up, with many of them letting her know they were expecting deliveries of bees and couldn’t make it to the market. Others are just starting their growing season and don’t yet have enough produce for a busy market day.

Now in her second year on the job, Gonzales said the market is continuing to grow, with 15 new vendors joining the organization this season. Also ahead are efforts to expand the Wednesday market, with partnerships planned to add fun activities — from possible kids yoga classes to art activities and more, Gonzales said.

“We’re really excited about what’s ahead,” she added.

Information: sandpointfarmersmarket.com

    Olivia Gonzales, market manager for the Farmers Market at Sandpoint, shows off one of the shirts featuring the market's logo. More than 40 of the market's 70-plus vendors turned out for Saturday's opening day.