Old Strathcona Farmers' Market

Decent little market to walk around. Some nice samples to be had. Some of the vendors went out of their way to engage. Others appeared as though they were watching the clock and counting down the minutes. Prices are very steep. It is what it is

Lots of unique vendors. Many very cool things to explore, sample, and purchase. Busking is permitted and there were several talented buskers there for entertainment. Parking wasn't the hardest once we figured out where it was. Many of the vendors had samples to try before you purchased. That was nice and also helped us spend more after trying the product. My only complaint about that was that some vendors were very aggressive in you trying their product. If someone says no thank you, one should not continue to push your product. Overall, it was a very positive experience and we are glad we made the effort to get there

Brought my golden retriever Max last Friday evening and was honestly surprised by how welcoming everyone was, vendors actually came out from behind their stalls to pet him. The indoor market has this warm, buzzing atmosphere that feels nothing like a sterile grocery run, and the smoked sausage I grabbed from one of the butcher stands was incredible. Plenty of people had their dogs with them too, so Max fit right in without any awkward looks or redirects. If you have a pup and want a low-key weekend outing with great local food, this place is hard to beat.

A weekend-only market! Open Saturdays from 8am to 3pm, and Sundays from 11am to 3pm. You’ll find stalls selling fresh veggies, craft beer, wine & whisky, baked goods, Thai food and loads more. The area’s also full of cute cafés and restaurants, perfect for grabbing a bite or going on a chill date after having a wander.

Not sure this market needs another glowing review, but it deserves one! It fights above its square footage in packing an authentic and varied punch, with a couple of choices within each market genre and a few gems you won’t find anywhere else. Well done.