The Saturday Morning Market has brought visitors statewide for 10 years now. Situated in the parking lot of Al Lang Field in Downtown St. Petersburg, the market provides live music as well as fresh produce, potted plants, fresh meats and cheeses, local art, jewelry, clothing and baked goods.
There is also a variety of multicultural food choices to satisfy any hunger craving. Whether you need fresh local fruits and vegetables for the week, or just want to come down for a bite to eat, the Saturday Morning market has it all and more.
Visitors can choose from a number of produce stands offering fresh choices from local farms. One of the most popular is Worden Farms, which provides a wide variety of local organically grown fruits, vegetables and herbs.People line up every weekend at the fresh pineapple and orange juice stand. Boca Ciega High School student Nour El Sayed spends his Saturday mornings coring and chopping fresh pineapple to help the family business. At $5 for two, most customers are happy to throw an extra dollar into the college fund tip jar nearby.Each week a new band comes to play live music for market visitors. Local fresh produce and home cooking stand owner Mr. I Got 'em takes a break to lead a dance with a market visitor. His fancy attire and name pay homage to a distant relative that once sold produce on the streets of St. Petersburg yelling "I got 'em."The kettle corn and fresh lemonade stand has been a staple of the Saturday Morning Market from the very beginning. Local owner Lee Christophersen (right) traded in his IT job 10 years ago and now spends his Saturday mornings serving up sweet and salty treats to market vistors.
Many visitors like to bring their dogs along with them when they come out to the market. No matter how big or small, all dogs are welcome as long as they have a calm and friendly temperament around other and can deal with the crowds.Jewelry, glass and wood work, clothing and more can be found made by a number of different local artists. Mike Ewashenko has been coming to the market for 5-6 years, offering nautical themed artwork that he makes out of scrap metal. “I’m a frustrated fisherman,” says Ewashenko. “I don’t have time to go fishing anymore but I have time to make fish and make money, that’s why they’re all smiling.”
Featured photo: There are a ton of food choices for hungry visitors including barbecue, Italian, French, Mexican, British, Indian, Ethiopian and many more. Cowbells are always heard ringing from The Uhuru Breakfast food stand, which provides large and hearty breakfasts packed with home fried potatoes, scrambled eggs and melted cheese.
