If there is one seasonal ritual that feels like pure joy, it is a Saturday morning at a good farmers market. The fresh air, the flowers, the warm smell of something baking nearby, the feeling of being connected to your community in the most grounded, simple way. Minnesota has a genuinely wonderful farmers market scene, and once the season opens, we find ourselves planning our weekends around it.
Whether you are looking for fresh local produce, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, homemade baked goods, or just a really good reason to get outside, there is a market here for you. Ben, Ollie, and I have made farmers market mornings one of our favorite warm-weather family traditions — picking out a bouquet of fresh flowers, letting Ollie lead the way, and just taking our time. Here are some of the best farmers markets in and around the Twin Cities, including a few that hold a very special place in our hearts.
Saint Paul Farmers’ Market (Downtown Lowertown)
This one is my personal favorite, and I do not think that is a controversial opinion. The Saint Paul Farmers’ Market has been running since 1854, making it the longest-running market in the state, and it shows. There is a depth and a tradition here that you can feel the moment you walk in. Every vendor is required to grow or produce their goods within 100 miles of Saint Paul, which means what you are buying is genuinely local, genuinely fresh, and genuinely worth it.
You will find produce, fresh flowers, baked goods, cheese, eggs, meats, honey, maple syrup, plants and more. The energy on a peak-season Saturday morning is something I look forward to all winter long. It is open year-round, which is a gift.
Address: 290 E. 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101
Hours: Saturdays 7 AM – 1 PM, Sundays 8 AM – 1 PM (Peak Season); Saturdays 9 AM – 1 PM (Winter)
Website: stpaulfarmersmarket.com
Mill City Farmers Market
Mill City is one of those places that feels special every single time. Located next to the Mill City Museum and the Guthrie Theater along the Minneapolis riverfront, the setting alone makes a Saturday morning feel like a little event. With over 115 rotating farmers, food makers, and artists, this market is a genuine community gathering — one that prioritizes local, sustainable, and organic goods in a way that is completely woven into its identity.
In addition to the shopping, Mill City offers free cooking classes with professional chefs, children’s activities, live music, and free outdoor yoga throughout the season. It is a full morning. Arrive early for the best selection, and bring a reusable bag — you will need it. The market runs year-round, with outdoor Saturdays from May through October and indoor winter markets at the Mill City Museum on the first and third Saturdays from November through April.
Address: 704 S. 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Hours: Saturdays 8 AM – 1 PM (May – September); 9 AM – 1 PM (October); 1st & 3rd Saturdays 9 AM – 1 PM Indoors (November – April)
Website: millcityfarmersmarket.org
Linden Hills Farmers Market
This is our family’s market. The one we plan Sunday mornings around all summer long, and the one I look forward to most when the season opens.
Our perfect Linden Hills morning looks something like this: we start at Sebastian Joe’s for coffee — if you have not been, it is one of the most beloved neighborhood coffee shops in Minneapolis and is right there in the heart of Linden Hills — and then we walk over to the market, where there is always more coffee, fresh food, and live music going. Ollie gets to wander the stalls. We pick out a bouquet of flowers. We take our time. And if the morning stretches long enough, which it usually does, we walk to Rosalie for lunch. It is the kind of morning that feels like summer at its very best.
The market itself is set in the parking lot of Settergren’s in the charming Linden Hills neighborhood of southwest Minneapolis. Founded in 2012, it has grown steadily and features a rotating mix of farmers, food producers, and artisans alongside live music every single week. On the second Sunday of each month they also sell “misfit” produce and products — the cookies that broke in the bag, the tomatoes that grew too tall — at reduced prices, which I find completely charming.
If you are looking for a farmers market morning that turns into a full neighborhood outing, this is the one.
Address: 2813 W. 43rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Hours: Sundays 10 AM – 1 PM (May – October)
Website: farmersmarketsofmpls.org/linden-hills-farmers-market
Minneapolis Farmers Market (Lyndale)
For sheer scale, nothing beats the Minneapolis Farmers Market at Lyndale and Glenwood. This is the largest farmer-managed market in the entire state of Minnesota, with roots going back to 1876 and the iconic red sheds that have sheltered vendors and shoppers since 1937. With over 100 vendors and 170 stalls, the variety is extraordinary — fresh produce from farmers across the region, plants, flowers, specialty foods, and more.
The diversity of vendors here is genuinely remarkable. You will find ingredients from all over the world alongside classic Minnesota produce, which makes it a wonderful place to explore and discover something new. Parking is free on weekends, and the market runs on weekdays too, which makes it one of the most accessible markets in the area.
Address: 312 E. Lyndale Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55405
Hours: Saturdays & Sundays 6 AM – 1 PM; Wednesdays – Fridays 7 AM – 1 PM (Seasonal)
Website: mplsfarmersmarket.com
Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market
The Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market is one of those neighborhood gems that locals love. Running every Saturday morning from May through October in the St. Boniface Church parking lot, it has a warm, unpretentious feel and a genuine commitment to seasonal, locally grown produce. They also host a Night Market on the last Thursday of the month during summer evenings at Earl Giles Distillery, which is a really fun evening option if daytime markets do not fit your schedule.
Address: 629 NE 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Hours: Saturdays 9 AM – 1 PM (May – October); Night Market last Thursday of the month in summer
Website: northeastmarket.org
Midtown Farmers Market
The Midtown Farmers Market at the corner of Lake Street and Hiawatha in South Minneapolis is one of the most community-centered markets in the Twin Cities. What makes it particularly special is its “Try It!” Remix Program, which supports first-time vendors from underrepresented communities in trying out market selling with limited financial investment. Shopping here means you are directly supporting small businesses that are just getting started, alongside established local farmers and food makers. There is also live music, book readings, and children’s events throughout the season.
Address: West side of Hiawatha Ave., just south of Lake Street, Minneapolis
Hours: Saturdays 8 AM – 1 PM (May – October); Tuesdays 3 PM – 7 PM (June – September)
Website: midtownfarmersmarket.org
Saint Paul Farmers’ Market — Woodbury Location
For those of us in the eastern suburbs, this one is a wonderful option. The Saint Paul Growers’ Association operates multiple satellite markets across the metro, and the Woodbury location is one of their largest. All the same standards apply — everything sold must be produced within 100 miles of Saint Paul — so you are getting the same quality and local commitment as the downtown flagship, just a little closer to home.
Address: Check stpaulfarmersmarket.com for the current Woodbury location
Hours: Sundays 8 AM – 1 PM (Seasonal)
Website: stpaulfarmersmarket.com
A Few Tips for Making the Most of Your Market Visit
Go early. The best produce and the most popular baked goods go fast, especially at the busiest markets on peak summer Saturdays. Bring reusable bags. Bring cash, though most markets also accept cards and EBT. And give yourself time to just wander. The best discoveries happen when you are not rushing.
Most Twin Cities farmers markets run from May through October, with a handful offering year-round options. Once the season opens, I genuinely plan my Saturday and Sunday mornings around it. Fresh flowers on the kitchen counter, something good from a local baker, and a slow walk through a neighborhood I love — that is what summer in Minnesota looks like for us, and I would not trade it for anything.
