My Favorite Chicago Farmers' Market: Green City Market

The Best Chicago Farmers' Market: Green City Market in Lincoln Park

One of the loveliest warm weather activities in Chicago is visiting one of the many farmers' markets across the city. When I lived in my studio apartment in the Gold Coast I would walk over to the Division Street Farmers Market on Saturday mornings (May 11 to October 26 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays) to pick up flowers, a crepe for breakfast, and fresh produce. Now, when I go to a farmers' market, I head to the massive farmers' market not far from Lincoln Park Zoo: The Green City Farmers Market. It is amazing!

This Chicago farmers' market in Lincoln Park draws more than 50 vendors every Saturday and Wednesday. Lots of families, people with their adorable dogs, and even top chefs come out to Green City Market to buy fresh fruits and veggies, cheese, flowers, bottled goods like maple syrup and more. It's a lively scene and you can often find cooking demos, food samples, and live music. I almost always get a crepe but there are other hot foods for lunch or breakfast like raclette sandwiches.

Green City Market Locations & Hours

The Green City market now expanded with two locations. The main one is in Lincoln Park and a smaller one in the West Loop. They run May through October.

Lincoln Park
Location: between Clark and Stockton Drive (1817 N. Clark)
Dates: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7am-1pm

Fulton Market
Location: southeast corner of Halsted and Fulton Streets (799 W. Fulton Market)
Dates: Saturdays, 9am-2pm

How to Get There

Parking - Discounted parking is available for $12.00 for the first two hours with validation in the Chicago Historical Museum parking lot off of Stockton Drive. Parking validation cards are available at the GCM information booth located at the Clark St. entrance to the market.

Bike - If the weather is nice, you can bike to the Green City Market. I borrowed this classic city bike with a basket -- perfect for the market -- from J.C. Lind . They sell the most beautiful European city bikes online and from their shop in Old Town. Don't forget your lock!

Drive - If you drive, you can get discounted parking for $12 for the first two hours. You just need to get your parking validated in the Chicago Historical Museum Parking Lot off of Stockton Drive. Be sure to pick up a parking validation card at the GCM information booth located at the Clark St. entrance to the market.

The L - The closest train stops are the Sedgwick Brown Line and the Clark/Division Red line.