‘So excited’: Cedar City farmers market works out kinks at new location

The Festival City Farmer's Market moved to a new location on 100 West, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Burt, Cedar City news

CEDAR CITY — Cedar City’s Festival City Farmers Market has moved to a new location and is working out the kinks before it begins opening on Wednesday nights.

The Festival City Farmer’s Market moved to a new location on 100 West, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Burt, Cedar City news

The market was previously open on Wednesdays from 2011-2019, said Heather Carter, who owns the market and Nature Hills Farm. However, it has been on hiatus since 2020 because of the pandemic while the Saturday market continued. This year is their 13th season.

Originally, Carter said the market wanted to open on Wednesdays last year but could not due to location-related issues. While the venue could only fit approximately 35 vendors then, the property owners had plans to expand.

“In the meantime, the construction began and we had to move our Saturday farmers market onto 100 West, south of University Boulevard (and) Center Street,” she said. “It was a great move — we expanded and everyone loved the street environment.”

Carter approached Cedar City Council, the Downtown Alliance and the Utah Department of Transportation earlier this year to close University Boulevard for the “Wednesday Night Festivals,” which she wanted to make a “big production,” she said.

Heather Carter holds strawberries at the Festival City Farmer’s Market, which moved to a new location on 100 West, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Burt, Cedar City news

“Ultimately, UDOT denied our request to shut down University Boulevard, but the City Council approved a move for both our Saturday market and our Wednesday market to 100 West, north of University Boulevard to Harding Ave,” Carter said.

While initially disappointed that their request was denied as they had an “outpouring of support from businesses along that road, the City Council, mayor and Downtown Alliance,” they are now “so excited for this move.” The location allows both the Saturday and Wednesday markets to be held in the same location — a feat not possible on University Boulevard, Carter said.

“We are working with the Johnson Center to use the new stage and grass area that they are in the process of building,” she added. “We are also going to use their parking lot for food trucks. It’s really going to work out nicely.”

The market’s location can accommodate 100-120 vendors, live music, food trucks and other amenities, Carter said, adding that it will be “an all-around great time for locals and tourists.”

“Wednesday Night Festivals is going to be a great addition to Historic Downtown,” she said. “We are so excited to have this opportunity.”

Many nearby businesses support the event as it is expected to “draw a lot of foot traffic downtown,” Carter said. The market plans to organize activities and giveaways, encouraging people to visit local businesses.

At the June 7 Cedar City Council meeting, Carter requested permanent signs to warn those in the area of upcoming road closures on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the council is expected to vote next Wednesday.

During the discussion, Carter discussed several “kinks” the market is working out with feedback from other businesses and city officials. For instance, the owners of The Pub Craft Kitchen are concerned about safety in the parking lot behind their restaurant and receiving deliveries in the packed space.

Signage directing visitors toward preferred parking at the Johnson Center should reduce stress on the lot, Carter said. And others discussed designating entrances and exits to avoid gridlock.

The Festival City Farmer’s Market moved to a new location on 100 West, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Burt, Cedar City news

Some businesses said market-only customers are using their bathrooms, putting a strain on their staff and costing them money in restroom and cleaning supplies. Councilmember R. Scott Phillips said bathrooms should be supplied as “it’s not fair to the businesses.”

“Whether you intentionally send them there or don’t send them there, if they need to use a restroom, then they’re going to seek one out,” he said. “If you’re attracting the types of crowds you are and I’ve seen them and it’s nice, but they’re going to need restroom facilities.”

Carter said she is working on obtaining portapotties to assuage their concerns and advising visitors and vendors not to use nearby businesses’ restrooms.

“There are a lot of things that need to be taken care of in a short period of time, and so, I am working on them,” she said.

The first Wednesday Night Festival is expected to be June 21 from 4-8 p.m., and the event will occur weekly until Oct. 4, Carter said. The Saturday market is held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and runs year-round.

Those visiting the markets are directed to park near the Johnson Center at 59 N. 100 West in Cedar City.

Ed. note: This article was edited to correct the name of a business mentioned in the article and the market’s hours.

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