TNT Diner

Ring in summer at these 14 farmers markets in Pierce & Thurston counties

Farmers market season is well underway in the South Sound, with events every day but Wednesday, and there’s at least one newcomer to check out in Pierce County.

The year-round Proctor Farmers Market in Tacoma has been in high-season since April, following a busier-than-usual winter with two markets each month instead of just one. The downtown market on Broadway and the big Saturday event in Puyallup also kicked off last month.

Growing markets in Lakewood, DuPont and 10-year-old Gig Harbor also continue in 2025, while University Place welcomes its first farmers market to Cirque Park every Friday afternoon into the evening.

That one is run by Patty Villa, who also spearheaded a market at Sunrise Village for a few years now. (Note that the latter Sunday morning market has moved to bigger digs at Frontier Park this summer.)

Villa had been developing the UP market with the city before learning that nearby Steilacoom would cancel its market (and its popular summer concert series) due to funding challenges, she told The News Tribune in an email. She said she was sorry to see a market falter, adding that if UP “can help fill the void they left, that is a bonus.”

“The purpose is to bring local products to the community, including fresh produce and other foods, provide a wholesome activity, and support and incubate small local businesses,” as she described the boost farmers markets can provide to the local economy and culture. “Good economic-development activity on a small scale.”

In Thurston County, the venerable Olympia Farmers Market, which turns 50 this year, continues four days a week through October. (Note that it’s listed below on Saturday but also runs Thursday, Friday and Sunday.) There are also weekend markets in Tenino and Tumwater.

Find our guide to all the farmers markets in Pierce and Thurston counties below, organized by day. Many accept SNAP/EBT payment, and a few offer Market Match dollars, which extend those support programs by allowing participants to purchase more fresh produce, plant starts and seeds. A separate Pierce County grant is also available for seniors.

Tacoma Farmers Market runs every Thursday, April-October, on Broadway between 9th and 11th downtown. Lunch crowds start filing in after 11 a.m. on a sunny May 1.
Tacoma Farmers Market runs every Thursday, April-October, on Broadway between 9th and 11th downtown. Lunch crowds start filing in after 11 a.m. on a sunny May 1. Kristine Sherred ksherred@thenewstribune.com

TUESDAY

LAKEWOOD FARMERS MARKET

Fort Steilacoom Park, cityoflakewood.us/FarmersMarket

June 3-Aug. 26, 2-7 p.m.

Accepts SNAP/EBT with Market Match up to $25

Great for: lots of space and lunch options, plus fresh take-home foods and lawn games

THURSDAY

TACOMA FARMERS MARKET

Broadway from 9th to 11th, tacomafarmersmarket.com

April 3-Sept. 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (no market June 19)

Accepts SNAP/EBT with Market Match and Tacoma sustainability grant for total match up to $35

Great for: lunch outside; bonus gifts like jewelry, dried lavender, handmade soaps

GIG HARBOR WATERFRONT FARMERS MARKET

Skansie Brothers Park, waterfrontfarmersmarket.org

May 22-Aug. 28, 1-6 p.m.

Great for: market with a view and some vendors that don’t hop the Narrows

DUPONT FARMERS MARKET

Clocktower Park, 1301 Palisade Blvd., dupontwa.gov/566/Farmers-Market

May 29-July 31 (no market June 19), 3-7 p.m.

Great for: park setting, early dinner and mix of vendors; fall market planned for Sept. 14

FRIDAY

ORTING VALLEY FARMERS MARKET

North Park, Calistoga Street and Washington Avenue, ortingvalleyfarmersmarket.com

May 9-Aug. 22, 3-7 p.m.

Great for: views of Mt. Rainier; nice mix of produce, take-home foods, crafts and gifts

Bouquets bursting with color, often curated by Hmong vendors, are a common sight at South Sound farmers markets.
Bouquets bursting with color, often curated by Hmong vendors, are a common sight at South Sound farmers markets. Kristine Sherred ksherred@thenewstribune.com

UNIVERSITY PLACE FARMERS MARKET

Cirque Park (near skate park, enter at Cirque Drive), facebook.com

June 6-Aug. 29, 3-8 p.m.

Great for: Friday night in the park

SATURDAY

OLYMPIA FARMERS MARKET

700 Capitol Way N., olympiafarmersmarket.com

Thursday-Sunday, April 3-Oct. 31 (weekends only November-December, Saturday only January-March), 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Accepts SNAP/EBT plus Market Match up to $25

Great for: three-days-a-week shopping at one of the state’s oldest markets, established in 1975

De La Mesa Farms is one of the many stands for fresh, hyperlocal produce every Saturday at Tacoma’s Proctor Farmers Market, one of the only producer-only markets in the area.
De La Mesa Farms is one of the many stands for fresh, hyperlocal produce every Saturday at Tacoma’s Proctor Farmers Market, one of the only producer-only markets in the area. AMBER RITSON

PROCTOR FARMERS MARKET

North 27th and North Proctor, proctorfarmersmarket.com

March 29-Dec. 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Winter Season 2026: Jan. 10 and 24, Feb. 14 and 28, March 14 and 28; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Accepts SNAP/EBT with Market Match up to $25

Great for: lots of produce, proteins, snacks and lunch in a walkable, urban neighborhood

PUYALLUP FARMERS MARKET

Pioneer Park & Pavilion, 300 S. Meridian, puyallupfarmersmarket.com

April 19-Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Accepts SNAP/EBT with Market Match up to $25

Great for: tons of everything at one of WA’s biggest markets, including a designated food court and crafts, in the heart of downtown

YELM FARMERS MARKET

Yelm Community Center, McKenzie Avenue at 2nd Street, yelmfarmersmarket.com/yfm

May 3-Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Accepts SNAP/EBT, also offers $5 Market Bucks through local bank support

Great for: park access plus children’s program

Go wild for berries (these from Spooner Farms in 2023) as they hit market stands, usually in early June.
Go wild for berries (these from Spooner Farms in 2023) as they hit market stands, usually in early June. Kristine Sherred ksherred@thenewstribune.com

TENINO FARMERS MARKET

213 Sussex Ave., teninofarmersmarket.org

May 3-Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Accepts SNAP/EBT with Market Match up to $25

Great for: approachable market in downtown setting

WEST CENTRAL PARK MARKET (OLYMPIA)

West Central Park, 1919 Harrison Ave., wcpnc.org/market

May 3-Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Great for: intimate market with fresh produce and lunch options, plus live music and kids activities

SUNDAY

THE VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET

Frontier Park, facebook.com/TheVillageFarmersMarket

May 4-July 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Accepts SNAP/EBT

Note: new location for former Sunrise Village market to allow for more vendors and amenities

Great for: the only Sunday market in Pierce County

TUMWATER FARMERS MARKET

Peter G. Schmidt Elementary School (Capital and Dennis), thetumwaterfarmersmarket.com

2nd and 4th Sunday, June 8-Sept. 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Accepts SNAP/EBT with Market Match up to $25

Great for: local produce, take-home foods and live music, plus playground and space for families

This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

KS
Kristine Sherred
The News Tribune
Kristine Sherred joined The News Tribune in 2019, following a decade in Chicago where she worked for restaurants, a liquor wholesaler, a culinary bookstore and a prominent food journalist. In addition to her SPJ-recognized series on Tacoma’s grease-trap policies, her work centers the people behind the counter and showcases the impact of small business on community. She previously reported for Industry Dive and William Reed. Find her on Instagram @kcsherred. Support my work with a digital subscription
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER