CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu;
Ginny Gieseke, (515) 277-6951, v.r.gieseke@worldnet.att.net
The Drake Neighborhood Farmers’ Market will celebrate the opening of its 10th season Wednesday, June 7, with a birthday party starting at 4 p.m. in the parking lot of First Christian Church, 25th Street and University Avenue.
The party features an opening ceremony at 4 p.m., free birthday cake, a veggie toss game and face painting for children, a National Guard climbing wall, door prizes drawn every 30 minutes and music by the Java Jews from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. In addition, Ruben Zamudio III will give salsa dance lessons at 7 p.m. followed by a free salsa dance party hosted by disc jockey Julian Serrano from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
The market is open from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday from June through September.
More than 20 vendors are scheduled to sell Iowa-grown produce, baked goods, honey, flowers, plants, snacks, meals, sandwiches and crafts. Shoppers may park free across the street from the market.
Entertainment is provided weekly, as well as educational and informative guests. The market also has a health tent that offers free blood pressure checks and blood sugar tests every week.
Six vendors will have wireless equipment for electronic benefit transfer cards. The equipment also accepts bank debit cards and VISA and MasterCard credit cards.
The market accepts checks for the Iowa Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as the WIC program.
The market is a non-profit, community project sponsored by the Drake Neighborhood Association, Drake University and First Christian Church. For more information, call Ginny Gieseke at (515) 277-6951.