Downtown Farmer’s Market settles back in at Festival Square

By Lethbridge Herald on July 3, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

The Downtown Farmers’ Market has returned to Festival Square to celebrate its 20th anniversary, and within the first hour of opening foot traffic had already increased in the area. 

Paul Kingsmith, director event development with the Lethbridge & District Exhibition said that to partner with the Downtown BRZ to endorse the downtown shopping and provide a fresh outdoor market feel to the area is great for multiple reasons. 

“It supplements the audience vendors can get by being in the downtown core, it adds vibrancy to the area and provides an option for those living and working in the area to buy fresh produce and do some shopping,” said Kingsmith. 

He added that since the inception of the Downtown Farmers’ Market in 2005, it has moved locations a few times, but it has remained in the area and now this year is the third consecutive year that it is in Festival Square. 

“It bounced around from its original location, and then during Covid it moved, and then it moved once again during the development of Festival Square and now it has a permanent location, with a familiar set up every week, giving it a consistency feel to it,” said Kingsmith. 

In terms of offering consumers and vendors a second opportunity and location to enjoy a farmers’ market, Kingsmith said it is important to the LDE. 

“You’ll never going to find a time that works for everybody, so what we try to do is diversify by finding a couple of times and a couple of locations that that will work for people to be able to attend a farmers’ market,” said Kingsmith. 

He added that they know how important it is for vendors to have exposure, as for some of them, their businesses is their livelihood, and it is important to the LDE to be able to support local entrepreneurs. 

“To be able to provide those entrepreneurs any opportunity to set up and sell their goods, it is something that we are happy to support,” said Kingsmith. 

He added that there is another category where vendors fall and it is those who do it as a side hustle, or a passion project, and having two different farmers’ market allows for the different types of vendors to have options to reach a variety of audiences. 

“We have vendors do one or the other because it fits their lifestyle better, so to have a second time and second location provides more opportunities for different vendors to get involved,” said Kingsmith. 

Sarah Amies, executive director of Downtown BRZ said it is fantastic to welcome the Farmers’ Market back to the area. 

“People are anticipating their Wednesday mornings, and we have already seen a lot of traffic since they opened up at around 9 a.m. this morning,” said Amies. 

She added that even though the opening market was a bit smaller, they are anticipating more people to come around in the following Wednesdays. 

“We are just super excited to welcome everyone back to downtown. I love to see those farmers and vendors. Buying local means that most of the money stays in the local community, which is so important, specially now,” said Amies. 

She added that the increase in foot traffic not only benefits those taking part of the farmers’ market, but also the businesses within the area. 

“People will come around, you see a great deal more when you are on the sidewalk looking into storefronts and getting your interest peeked, so as you pass various stores on your way to the farmers’ market, you think to yourself maybe I’ll check that shoe store, bookstore, or other personal services shops,” said Amies. 

The Downtown Farmers’ Market will run every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Aug. 27 and starting next week a variety of food trucks will be joining. 

Applications for both vendors and food trucks are still open, and the Farmers’ Market can accommodate up to 30 vendors on Festival Square.