A slice of SLO County.

SLO Farmer’s Market usually makes for a laid-back Thursday evening in the streets downtown, however, last night was a bit different. With the Week Of Welcome inaugurating all of the new Cal Poly students, a Mariachi band and Folklorico dancers celebrating the Mexican Independence Day with booming music and colorful dresses, and an interactive dance party on a big screen in the middle of the street, things were a little more lively than usual.

Higuera Street was alive. The street strollers still enjoyed the fresh flowers and produce,caricature drawings, and unsurpassed local BBQ, but hey had a few more people than usual to make their way through and around. The energy could be felt all throughout downtown, with costumed Wowees, the “free hugs” guy gifting, well, free hugs, and overflowing sidewalks and streets. It almost felt like a mini-Vegas in downtown SLO.

This week’s Farmer’s Market frenzy was just the beginning,though, now that Cal Poly is back in. So if you’re looking for a little more excitement during your week, that’s the place to be on Thursday night!

Most cities on the Central Coast hold a Farmer’s market of some sort, with a few hosting more than one per week. Residents of Grover Beach have long asked for one to call their own, to no avail until this Monday at a city council meeting. According to an MSNBC report, the council voted in favor of the Farmer’s Market, met with celebratory cheers from the residents.

No word yet on exactly which vendors will turn out for the event, but according to Grover Beach Parks and Recreation Department Director Kathy Petker, between 12 and 15 vendors will be participating. To encourage more businesses to become a part of the weekly event, the $40 booth fee will be waived until further notice.

Starting on August 17, the event will be held Sunday afternoons at the Ramona Garden Park, the public transit hub for the city nestled between a residential and mixed-use commercial area. Some residents living nearby have initial concerns about noise and traffic in their neighborhood, wondering why the Farmer’s Market isn’t being held in the empty lot at the end of Grand Avenue, away from the residential area of the city.

———-

What are your thoughts? Do you think the Farmer’s Market location is appropriate? What types of vendors would you like to see come out to sell their wares?

With only a little more than a month left of summertime, it’s time to get off the couch, turn off “America’s Got Talent” (I know, it’s hard), and get outside while the weather is still warm enough to wear shorts. I’ll even give you an easy way to get started — Thursday evening Farmer’s Market in downtown SLO.

If you live in or near San Luis Obispo, you’ve no doubt been to the event, even if it was just to get a quick dip of frozen yogurt at Bali’s, forgetting it was Thursday, and getting frustrated with all the foot traffic in the way of your car!

“I just want some fat-free Vanilla frozen yogurt topped with strawberries and granola!”, you rant. BUT, why not park your car, take a stroll along the bar-be-cue scented streets, get your face painted like a tiger (you know you want to), buy some fresh tomatoes, sunflowers, or homemade tamales, and spend some time relaxing with the people that make up the community that you love?

SLO Farmer’s Market is held every Thursday from 6-9pm on Higuera Street in downtown SLO.

———-

What’s your favorite thing about SLO Farmer’s Market? Leave a comment and see what others have said! In the meantime, enjoy this video from Visitor Television.