Thursday mornings are set aside during the summer months by local residents and visitors for visiting Boothbay Farmers Market on Boothbay Common, off Route 27 in the heart of Boothbay Center.

Held from 9 a.m. to noon each Thursday from mid-May to early October, the Common is a beehive of activity, as a variety of vendors set up and display their wares and customers roam around looking for and buying fresh food and much more.

2023 is the 20th year of Boothbay Farmers Market which has been held at other locations but the parking availability near the Common has been most beneficial to its success in drawing customers.

“We are all very excited for the upcoming season,” said Anna Christina, head of marketing, and one of the longtime vendors as owner of Mana Medicinals. “We have five new vendors this year, and the complete roster of vendors is on our website, boothbayfarmersmarket.me. We have 24 vendors this year in total.”

Christina said the vendors provide organic produce, locally raised meats, gluten-free baked goods, delicious craft vinegars, herbal remedies, cheese, artisanal breads, coffee, seedlings, prepared foods and more.

“We have organized a variety of musicians to come and play for the community during Farmers Market; there are approximately seven musical groups who will rotate throughout the season,” said Christina.

The Common is a great spot for those who have not yet discovered the farmers market, as motorists see it as they drive by and often pop in, said Christina.

“With Farmers Market being on Thursdays, it is difficult for some residents to get there because of work schedules. Some of our vendors have Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs and one farm does a drop off year round in Boothbay,” said Christina. “Some vendors have farm stores and others ship products or wholesale locally.”

Boothbay Farmers Market is on Facebook (Boothbay Farmers Market) and Instagram (@boothbayfarmersmarket).

Several of Boothbay’s vendors participate in other farmers markets as well; at Bath Farmers Market (https://www.bathfarmersmarket.com/) on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to noon at Bath Freight Shed in the winter and at Bath Waterfront Park in the summer; and Wiscasset Farmers Market (https://www.wiscassetfarmersmarket.com/), Fridays, from 9 a.m. to noon, 51 Bath Road, downtown near the railroad tracks.

“We are so lucky to have one of Maine's best Farmers Markets in the Boothbay region. We have access to local organically grown produce, medicinals, meats, vegetables, fruit, seafood, maple syrup, coffee, goat cheese, yarn and so much more,” said Nancy DeSisto of Boothbay Harbor.

“I love the Boothbay Farmers Market! I look forward to Thursday mornings during the season to shop for some of the finest products around … Plus it’s a great place to meet up with friends and connect over a cup of locally roasted coffee,” said Jill Butke of Boothbay.

“We love getting to the Common early on market day to get a cup of coffee from Big Barn and stroll through the market to see what’s in season that week. We usually make a beeline to the Dharma Farm stand to say good morning to our friend Jeff and start planning our week’s menu around his fantastic produce. Then we do the loop, doing virtually all of our food shopping for the week, because the diverse mix of vendors has almost anything we would want,” said Nathan Schmidt of Boothbay.

“Come one, come all to the best farmers market in Maine!” said Susan Quinby of Newagen. “Meet your neighbors, make new friends and enjoy the plentiful produce, bodacious baked goods, fragrant flowers, creative crafts—and so much more at Boothbay’s best terrific Thursday’s tradition. See you at the market!”