This farmers market in Birmingham is extending its 2023 season for the holidays
Patrons who enjoy shopping at the farmers market at Pepper Place in Birmingham will have more time to buy goods from Alabama farmers and vendors. The weekly Saturday market is extending its 2023 schedule until December 16, 2023.
The collection of farmers, vendors, and makers usually wraps up its season in early December, but this year, organizers wanted to give customers more time to shop with the retailers in the Pepper Place commercial district for the holiday season.
Jasmine Smith (left) and Emily Nabors Hall (left) speak to attendees during a chef’s demo for “The Break Up Cookie” at the Market at Pepper Place. (Shauna Stuart| AL.com)Shauna Stuart
The extended farmers market season is one of two upcoming holiday events. On Dec. 6 from 4 to 7 p.m., three shops in the district— Design Supply, Stone Hollow Farm Stand, and Son of a Butcher— will host holiday open houses with complimentary tastings and door prizes. Design Supply will offer cocktails and have work by artist A.K. Hardeman available for purchase. Farmstand will host an evening of photographs with Santa Claus and seasonal offerings from its farm in Hapeville. The Son of a Butcher will offer complimentary beef tenderloin and cheeseboard samples. The shop’s butchers, fishmongers, and cheesemongers will also be on hand to answer questions about holiday menus. (More information about the open houses is available here).
Flowers from the Stone’s Hollow Farmstead tent at the Market at Pepper Place (Courtesy: The Market at Pepper Place)
This year has marked the longest Market at Pepper Place schedule to date. The Market opened its 2023 season on January 28-– the earliest date since it started operations in 2000.
In October, the Saturday market was one of the key events at the inaugural Birmingham FOOD + Culture festival, a four-day fall food festival and dinner series designed to showcase culinary talent in Birmingham and throughout the South. Events included: an opening lunch honoring women in the culinary scene, hosted by James Beard award-winning author Toni Tipton Martin, the launch of the Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence, a family-style dinner celebrating Black chefs, a special edition of the farmers market with book signings and poetry readings, a massive Saturday tailgate and BBQ festival at Sloss Furnaces, and a Sunday brunch featuring pastry chefs, bakers, and mixologists from around the South.
The FOOD+ Fire tailgate event at the Birmingham FOOD+Culture festival on Oct. 14, 2023. (Shauna Stuart| AL.com)Shauna Stuart
Ribs from Dreamland Dreamland Bar-B-Que at the FOOD+ Fire event at Sloss Furnaces. The event was part of the inaugural FOOD+ Culture festival in Birmingham. (Shauna Stuart| AL.com)Shauna Stuart
The series of events recently garnered national acclaim. In November, USA TODAY listed the FOOD+Culture Festival in its 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for “Best New Festival.” The nominees include the Adjacent Festival in New Jersey, the Cincinnati Black Wine Festival in Ohio, and Highball Festival in Atlanta, Ga. The public voting process is open until noon EST on Dec. 25, and votes can be submitted once a day. The full list is available here and readers can vote for the Birmingham FOOD+Culture festival here.