Thousands are expected out in Cedar on Sunday, May 11 for the first Farmers Market of the 2025 season. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

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NANAIMO — A true sign of summer on the mid-Island is back.

For its 29th season, the Cedar Farmers Market opens to thousands of local and regional shoppers on Sunday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the fields of the former Woodbank Elementary School on Woobank Rd. in Cedar.

Executive director of the market Kate Poirier told NanaimoNewsNOW they received a record number of applications from businesses wanting to take part this year and it was a balancing act getting as many as possible in.

“It’s always a big process approving the different businesses. We’re looking at the local farmers and crops first, and we also have an obligation to have at least half of our market space be food and farm vendors, so that’s how we fill up our space. We do focus also on Cedar-Yellow Point area businesses.”

Food trucks mix with stalls and booths around the school field site. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Around 100 different stalls, booths and food trucks will be setup every Sunday through to Oct. 26, rain or shine.

Everything from fresh cooked food, to baked goods, handmade gifts, pottery, woodworks, drinks, art, pet treats and more are on offer.

Porier is hopeful for another banner season with the market growing exponentially over recent years.

“In 2019, a busy day might see 1,500 or 2,000 people, and then last year at our opening Mother’s Day market, we had 3,500 shoppers who showed up. It was one of the first nice days of the year, and just everyone came.”

A full slate of live music is also booked through the season.

Market vendors setup weekly on the old Woodbank Elementary site. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The event has grown to a point where it’s quite literally bursting at the seams.

Poirier said they’re setup on “every inch of space” they can currently use on the school fields, so accommodating more vendors would mean a move in location.

“My dream for the future is that we find permanent land, year round and we create something that’s really helping lift off all these small businesses that currently don’t have access to it.”

She added while an option to consider on paper, moving to long-time vacant commercial properties in Nanaimo itself, such as the former Sears at Nanaimo North Town Centre, or the former Save-on-Foods at Terminal Park, would represent a “huge culture shock” to market partners and shoppers.

“People are very much attached to [Cedar]. Next year, we’re going to be celebrating our 30th anniversary and moving into a parking lot space more north and into the city, I don’t think it goes with the personality and culture that has been cultivated where we are. It would just be a tough sell for the membership, but it’s definitely something to think about.”

While an exact date is yet to be announced, shoppers can also expect the annual Christmas themed market in mid-November to officially wrap the season.

Live music runs throughout market hours all season, rain or shine, with a fully scheduled lineup already in place. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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