Road to close in Cedar City for farmers market while new ‘destination downtown’ is constructed

Written by Alysha Lundgren
June 20, 2022

CEDAR CITY — The Festival City Farmers Market in Cedar City is temporarily relocating while a new “destination downtown” public plaza is being constructed.

The Festival City Market, Cedar City, Utah, June 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

On June 8, the Cedar City Council unanimously approved closing 100 West from Center Street to Shakespeare Lane on Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the farmers market.

Currently, the market is located at 45 West Center Street and is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. While the group is expected to move after July 4, the actual date is still pending, said Heather Carter who owns the market and Nature Hills Farm.

The relocation was prompted by upcoming construction in the lot the market currently resides and the market will move shortly before construction begins, Carter said. Organizers are also working on logistical tasks, like securing storage and planning a new layout.

The plan is to build a public plaza that can be used for events, said Steve Nelson, the owner of the market’s current space and real estate broker of Stratum Real Estate Group. The project is still conceptual but the plan is to construct a building inspired by the Escalante Hotel that will serve as housing above and a restaurant below.

Sunny Days and Doodles (front) and Sara Greene (back) at the Festival City Market, Cedar City, Utah, June 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

“It’s going to be a cool, historical building,” he said.

The area will also be landscaped and outfitted with outdoor seating. They plan to build a porch outside the restaurant that will double as a stage, Nelson said, adding that the plan is to create a program of events to create a “cool hangout” where tourists can find great food and entertainment.

“So it’ll be a destination-downtown place when people are looking for something to do on a weekend,” he said.

Once construction is complete, the market will likely move back into the improved plaza, depending on whether all the vendors will fit, Carter said. Currently, up to 40 vendors fill the space and close to 100 vendors sell at the market, but not at the same time, she noted.

Working with City Council

Lindy’s Farm Stand at the Festival City Market, Cedar City, Utah, June 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

The road closure was first requested at a May City Council meeting, and Councilmember Tyler Melling said he couldn’t think of a better reason to close a road.

To gain approval, the organizers were asked to contact affected businesses to ensure that those living or working in the area would retain access to necessary entrances and exits. The market purchased liability insurance and worked with the Cedar City Police Department to alleviate safety concerns.

Police Chief Darin Adams said the department was not in opposition but would require the market to close the road. Additionally, the location is spacious enough to allow emergency responders to move around the barricades if needed.

Festival City Farmers Market

The year-round farmers market started in 2011 and Carter said it was the first of its kind in Utah and remains open 50 weeks a year in rain, wind and snow, as the number of vendors has grown too large for the group to be facilitated inside. She said the market has been successful and has changed how vendors can operate their businesses, taking the work from being a hobby or a part-time job to a career.

Marigold Gardens at the Festival City Market, Cedar City, Utah, June 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

The community greatly benefits from the homemade and homegrown products available, including produce, baked goods, honey, meat and artisan crafts, Carter said, adding that it is not a resale market.

“Come and visit – buy something,” she said. “We have live music every week and it’s a great place to hang out.”

In the last three to four years, the market has grown tremendously but its growth accelerated in 2020 due to COVID-19. As events were canceled and vendors no longer had venues to rely on, the market’s organizers decided to allow more crafters to participate, Carter said.

“We thought it would help them since we did not have to close down,” she said. “It was such a great addition since people were attending the farmer’s market from Nevada and California in droves.”

Products by Mountain Magik at the Festival City Market, Cedar City, Utah, June 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

The organization consistently faces ups and downs; however, Carter said between 800-1,200 people visit the market each week, which is both challenging and beneficial for vendors and customers.

“Some years we don’t have as much support from customers and when we don’t have customers, we lose vendors and they go hand in hand,” she said. “It’s always hard to get farmers at the market. It’s just a lot of work to participate in a market and farmers get tired.”

The market is currently accepting all farmers. Some craft vendors may also participate but Carter said they only allow a certain number per category.

Those interested can apply on the Festival City Farmers Market’s Facebook page, where individuals can also learn more and stay up-to-date with their relocation.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alysha Lundgren joined the St. George News team in 2022. She began her career as a freelancer, writing resource articles for families of children with disabilities. She's also covered topics such as astronomy, recreation and nature. Originally from Nevada, Alysha fell in love with Utah quickly after moving to Cedar City. In her free time, she enjoys wandering and photographing Utah's gorgeous landscapes or hunkering down in a blanket to play video games or read a good book.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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