The Irvington Farmers Market

Irvington is a small, Northern Neck town with limited commercial offerings. That is, until the first Saturday of every month from May to November.  The Farmers Market, held in the Irvington Commons next to the Steamboat Museum on King Carter Drive, is a local tradition which has won accolades from around the state for its size and quality offerings.  

Over one hundred vendors from around the region come to display their goods.  Items sold include: pottery, hand made jewelry, furniture, paintings, wood carvings, hand made clothes and knitted items, glassware, oyster gardening floats and spat, and a wide array of craft items.

Edible items such as baked goods, artisanal cheeses, uncommon fresh meats such as goat, bison and duck, as well as an abundance of produce are also available.

Informational booths are also present and represent a range of local interests such as The Master Gardeners of the Northern Neck, The Audubon Society, Oyster Gardeners and Virginia politics.

To round off the experience, the central gazebo showcases free musical entertainment.  Food vendors offer a variety of carnival fare and a spattering of seafood. It's best to come early as attendance tends to be heavy. The market is a "must do" opportunity to see unusual arts & crafts in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.  As always, dogs on leads are welcome to attend.

The market begins promptly at 9 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m.  

Personal Note:

We love to attend this monthly summer ritual as all of Lancaster County comes out to support it. The market is a great way to begin a leisurely Saturday, walking the craft stalls, sipping coffee and chatting with people we know.  As dog lovers, we especially like to watch the variety of K-9s who make an appearance.  It seems they enjoy the market as much as their owners.

As an oyster gardener, we purchase our spat (baby oysters) and oyster floats from local vendors, talk to the Northern Neck Master Gardeners about the availability of native plants for our yard and peruse the selection of crafts.  I have a fondness for original pottery with a coastal motif and have purchased several unique pieces over the years.  

We take advantage of the fabulous produce which is available through several local vendors.  Everything is fresh and fairly priced: it is hard to beat the selection.  Heirloom tomatoes, corn and greens keep us coming back time after time.  

July 4th and Labor Day weekends have the largest number of vendors and highest turnout as the town swells with tourists and seasonal residents during this time.  It is a great way to experience the essence of Carter's Creek.